Spurs needs to tank hard and target Wembanyama un 2023

[Mr. Body]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hk0YmKIpxPI
rascal's kind of player...

Man the Spurs tried to trade Brent Barry for JR Smith.

[Rocalcio]

He’s playing right now in the French Cup quarter final, against Tony’s team in which Nando plays (and who had an incredible behind the back assist for a teammate’s dunk at the buzzer). At the end of the 3rd, Victor has 26 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks. Great game !

[Rocalcio]

He’s playing right now in the French Cup quarter final, against Tony’s team in which Nando plays (and who had an incredible behind the back assist for a teammate’s dunk at the buzzer). At the end of the 3rd, Victor has 26 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks. Great game !

He finishes with 29, 16 and 3

[benefactor]

He finishes with 29, 16 and 3
Sup Rob...I need you to beat Joey's ass in front of his shop or at the closest Whataburger. I would but I can't get down to SA anytime soon.

[spurraider21]

IMO the only path to us landing the Charlotte pick is if all of the following conditions are met:
1) They lLand a top pick in '23 that has an immediate impact (Wemby / Scoot)
2) Lamelo makes it clear he won't go along with another tanking season.
3) They re-sign Miles Bridges and is available and in shape.
4) Mark Williams takes a leap forward.
5) They keep their core and add an impactful veteran.
Under those conditions, the Eastern Conference is weak enough that they might make the play in as the 8th seed with a losing record, where they'd have to win only 1 game out of 2 to get in. But unless Lamelo lights a fire under management's butt, they will not feel the urgency to act now. So I'd say chances are not looking good.
meh, overcomplicated. the east is weak. most of the play-in teams right now are sub .500

Hornets already were a play-in team last year, so its not like they were that far off. losing bridges for the year hurt them quite a bit. if he's back next year, and with development of ball, mark williams, thats already a good enough squad for play-in, and they'll get a good enough pick this year to potentially add another contributor. if it doesnt convey next year, then that also means they'd be adding another talented young player in the draft which makes it even more likely the pick would eventually convey in year 3

id say that the odds of the pick conveying are roughly coin flips for each of the next two years, and we only need to win one of them

[DPG21920]

meh, overcomplicated. the east is weak. most of the play-in teams right now are sub .500

Hornets already were a play-in team last year, so its not like they were that far off. losing bridges for the year hurt them quite a bit. if he's back next year, and with development of ball, mark williams, thats already a good enough squad for play-in, and they'll get a good enough pick this year to potentially add another contributor. if it doesnt convey next year, then that also means they'd be adding another talented young player in the draft which makes it even more likely the pick would eventually convey in year 3

id say that the odds of the pick conveying are roughly coin flips for each of the next two years, and we only need to win one of them

Agree - they suck but they have a path to being a low level play-in team if they pull their heads out and build a decent roster soon.

[Ariel]

You're telling me this:

meh, overcomplicated. the east is weak. most of the play-in teams right now are sub .500 (I said "the Eastern Conference is weak enough that they might make the play in as the 8th seed with a losing record")

Hornets already were a play-in team last year, so its not like they were that far off. losing bridges for the year hurt them quite a bit. if he's back next year (condition 3), and with development of ball (requires condition 2, because if he bolts this can't happen), mark williams (conditions 4 and 5), thats already a good enough squad for play-in, and they'll get a good enough pick this year to potentially add another contributor (condition 1). if it doesnt convey next year, then that also means they'd be adding another talented young player in the draft which makes it even more likely the pick would eventually convey in year 3

id say that the odds of the pick conveying are roughly coin flips for each of the next two years, and we only need to win one of them
So basically you're saying that if (virtually) every condition I cited is met, the pick can convey in exactly the same manner I predicted (via the play in)? And how is my scenario more complicated than yours when they're virtually equivalent? The only major difference is the chances you're giving such scenario of happening, not the events leading up to it.
Personally, I think that getting to the play in is easy, the difficult part is getting past it, which were not very close to doing: they lost by almost 30 points the first of 2 games they would have had to win in order to get through. So, again, with Bridges out for an entire season and having lost veterans, I don't think they're that close to duplicating what they did a year ago, much less finishing what they couldn't. Is it possible? Sure. But likely it's definitely not.

[spurraider21]

You're telling me this:

So basically you're saying that if (virtually) every condition I cited is met, the pick can convey in exactly the same manner I predicted (via the play in)? And how is my scenario more complicated than yours when they're virtually equivalent? The only major difference is the chances you're giving such scenario of happening, not the events leading up to it.
Personally, I think that getting to the play in is easy, the difficult part is getting past it, which were not very close to doing: they lost by almost 30 points the first of 2 games they would have had to win in order to get through. So, again, with Bridges out for an entire season and having lost veterans, I don't think they're that close to duplicating what they did a year ago, much less finishing what they couldn't. Is it possible? Sure. But likely it's definitely not.
them getting a good pick this year is a given. i dont think it comes down to "ball making it clear he wont go along with a tanking season." the only real contingency is miles bridges tbh. and he's still a RFA

[Ariel]

them getting a good pick this year is a given. i dont think it comes down to "ball making it clear he wont go along with a tanking season." the only real contingency is miles bridges tbh. and he's still a RFA
Them getting a good pick is a given, but getting a contributor is not, and hence why I explicitly mentioned those prospects who could contribute within the required time frame (Wemby & Scoot). If they get one of the Thompson twins (or Nick Smith), forget about it... by the time they learn to tie their shoelaces Lamelo will be in LA.

[Rocalcio]

Sup Rob...I need you to beat Joey's ass in front of his shop or at the closest Whataburger. I would but I can't get down to SA anytime soon.

Well, I’m in France, so...

[offset formation]

Well, I’m in France, so...

Do you also have ants in your pants?

[Ariel]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rI4zvXXil0k

[DPG21920]

Key takeaway from that Windhorst pod: Victor is NOT going to force his way out of anywhere. He will play where he is drafted and understands it will be for a bad team.

[Ariel]

Preparing for the NBA's Victor Wembanyama revolution (https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/35690491/preparing-nba-victor-wembanyama-revolution)

PARIS -- IT'S LATE MORNING on a gray winter day just outside the French capital, and Victor Wembanyama hasn't been awake very long. This makes several people in his life quite happy.

The small arena located a little over 2 miles from the Arc de Triomphe that Wembanyama is calling his basketball home is mostly dark, transformed into a set for a photo shoot, complete with complicated lighting arrays and cameras at all angles.

His team, the Metropolitans 92, will have to delay practice until the shoot is over. The team was on the brink of dissolving last year, and its future beyond this season is in doubt. It might not even be able to play in this same gym next year because a pro volleyball team is likely taking over the dates.

There's a police officer examining the front row of seats and taking notes, a protective detail doing advance work for a government official planning to attend the next game. Also expected for the contest are representatives from nearly a dozen NBA teams, including three general managers.

It's another day in the unique journey that's unfolding for Wembanyama, a captivating one-off talent in the midst of a one-off season with an NBA preparation strategy never before seen for a European teenager. The French star is the most anticipated basketball prospect in 20 years and a lock to be taken with the top pick in this summer's draft (June 22, ESPN).

He is surrounded by the anticipation of his NBA arrival with fans, celebrities, media and potential sponsors straining to get his attention -- all while Wembanyama and those around him are taking a careful and thoughtful approach to give him the best chance of success once he gets there.

In the meantime, though, Wembanyama is supposed to be getting plenty of sleep. The athletic trainer hired this season specifically to care for him, Guillaume Alquier, waits for text messages every morning to get a report on how long the player slept. They don't rely on technology to track it; Alquier records it manually.

Alquier wants Wembanyama to get 10 hours a day but will live with eight or nine. Jeremy Medjana, Wembanyama's veteran Paris-based agent, also wants sleep updates and, frankly, would prefer at least 11 hours. Medjana manages his schedule diligently to clear time in the afternoons for naps.

Wembanyama, though, is in the moment during this session. He is studying the cameras, looking over the shoulder of the photographer at a laptop to instantly study how the photos turn out. Even playfully smacking the movie clapboard being used before video cameras start rolling; he has never used one before and loves the novelty.

As he waits for the camera to set between bursts of photos, he playfully shoots layups at a nearby hoop, his fingertips coming shockingly close to the rim as he is standing on the floor. The roster indicates he is 7-foot-4, but in shoes, he is actually 7-foot-5, with a wingspan of 8 feet. And it's possible he isn't done growing.

"I've never done something this big," he said, referring to the scale of the day's operation.

There will be many more sessions like this coming. Wembanyama is experiencing a real moment, fueled by the brilliant two games he had in October just outside Las Vegas, an exhibition that was set up to showcase him and fellow top prospect Scoot Henderson of the G League Ignite in another remarkable one-off.

Wembanyama had 37 points in that first game, drilling seven 3-pointers in a display that mesmerized even the already impressed scouts who had been tracking him. He played differently in the second game, attacking the interior and relying on his remarkable combination of size and touch to score 36 points when the Ignite adjusted to his 3-point shooting.

The talent evaluators, plus the fans who were seeing him for the first time, were awed. Within days, the NBA purchased the rights to his team's games to stream them on the league's platforms.

His parents, Elodie and Felix, watched quietly from the darkness behind the cameras. They'd come to see the scene. They're extremely supportive and protective, but they don't hover. Wembanyama has been independent for a while, moving out of his suburban home in Le Chesnay, a community that abuts the Palace of Versailles, to come to nearby Paris and focus on a basketball career when he was just 14.

But mom and dad are still worried this is all a little too much. That the demands of the media, the fans and the leagues collectively steal time he needs to focus on development, health and well-being. The stress and stakes of October's games in the United States also made them uncomfortable.

"I didn't even think about the risk; my parents probably did. But that ain't my role," Wembanyama said with a smile. "It's not my way of thinking. Anything that I do, that I step into, I'm sure that I'll succeed."

From an awareness and business standpoint, the effects of that week in Nevada are incalculable. Wembanyama's recognition and the desire for companies to be associated with him have exploded. In 2003, when he was 18, LeBron James' tremendous performance on a hyped game televised on ESPN helped fuel a shoe bidding war that likely earned him tens of millions of dollars. Wembanyama, who turned 19 on Jan. 4, might have done the same a generation later.

Brands are throwing themselves at Wembanyama, trying to establish partnerships before he gets to the league. There is no way of knowing how much those games against the Ignite will ultimately have earned him, though his agents think it could eventually approach $100 million.

But it's less than it could be because Wembanyama is turning most of the brands down at the moment.

"What we're trying to do, first of all, is make Victor rare," said Bouna Ndiaye, Wembanyama's Dallas-based agent who has represented numerous French stars, including Rudy Gobert, Nicolas Batum and Evan Fournier.

"We don't want him all over the place. We don't want to have 20 partners. That doesn't make him a known basketball player. Victor says, 'You want to be the best.' When you want to be the best, you have to focus on basketball. And Victor is rejecting some rich, million-dollar deals right now because he wants to focus on basketball."

That means actually playing basketball. This is why Wembanyama waved off the wave of suggestions that he shut himself down and spend six to eight months only focusing on draft preparation and eliminating the risk of injury.

"A lot of people called me -- NBA people, agents, people in the industry -- and they said, 'What are you guys doing?'" Medjana said. "They wanted to know why we took the risk of this guy coming and [maybe] playing poorly when he's already guaranteed to be the No. 1 pick, essentially. His parents were not the only ones that were concerned, I guess. But look at him now."

Wembanyama doesn't yet know James, even though both are within the Nike stable. And Wembanyama hasn't directly sought advice from the league's all-time leading scorer, who, even two decades removed, might be the only one to have dealt with such growing expectations and thirst from sponsors before reaching the NBA.

But as it turns out, Wembanyama is already following the advice James would give him about how he is approaching putting basketball before business.

"The most important thing [for him] is stay true to the game," James said about Wembanyama. "And that's one thing for me. I always tell myself, 'I'm going to commit to the game. I'm going to train. I'm going to prepare myself physically, mentally, spiritually, to give to the game if you want to be great.'

"The second thing is don't forget to have fun because it becomes a business. It becomes a business right away. And he's going through it right now, and it's going to get even -- I don't want to say worse, but it gets even more demanding on you on the business side."

Wembanyama has been heavily praised by players, from James to Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo to newly acquired Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant. Wembanyama has had to curtail his time out in public, where he has become one of France's most recognizable athletes. His precious home games have become events with a wide variety of big names sitting courtside and angling for meetings. Travis Scott. Kylian Mbappe. Michael Douglas even came to two games and invited Wembanyama to a set where he was filming a movie about Benjamin Franklin.

When Wembanyama attended the Chicago Bulls-Detroit Pistons game in Paris in January, a meeting was arranged with Magic Johnson because Wembanyama long admired the five-time NBA champion's passing brilliance.

This will go on into the spring. It is accepted Wembanyama doesn't have to take another dribble and he will be picked first. But shutting down is not under consideration.

"Victor, if he doesn't play basketball, he's not going to be happy," Medjana said. "What makes him happy, it's to play that game. It's not about the money; he's going to make money. He wants to play."

Wembanyama is often one of the first players on the floor, where he goes through an extensive body activation routine. It's not quite Stephen Curry-esque, but it's intriguing nonetheless. Alquier puts him through the paces, which includes juggling tennis balls and going through other fast-twitch muscle and hand-eye coordination warmups.

Before a January game against current French champion ASVEL, the Lyon-based team that Wembanyama played with last season before coming back to Paris, an NBA team president is in the midst of a conversation with a scout when he sees Wembanyama start the routine. He breaks off the conversation, declaring, "I want to watch this."

Another NBA general manager, who has flown over with a small crew of staffers to gather intel on the player he'll take if his franchise wins the lottery, positions himself on the arena's second level overlooking the bench area and records Wembanyama's routine on his iPhone.

If there's one thing Alquier cares more about than Wembanyama's sleep, it's his feet. Protecting the feet is vital for big men in the NBA, and there's perhaps few others on the planet with the type of long, arched and narrow Size 21 feet that Wembanyama has.

"We have unbelievable experience working on how to avoid stress [injuries], how to avoid them with those long feet," said Ndiaye, who has represented numerous French 7-footers during his career. "This is something that you have to work on. And we have been setting up a special program on Victor, on his feet these past three years. ... We have been working very specifically on his body to make him safer, and with a different approach."

Since he was 15, Wembanyama has been working to align his knees and learn how to land to soften the load. But his out-of-the-box techniques these days draw a crowd.

With shoes and socks off sitting on the floor, Alquier has him crawl on his fingertips and toes in an effort to strengthen his core. Then there is the big toe: Alquier spends a lot of time working on the big toes.

He will put bands around each of Wembanyama's big toes and stretch them to create resistance. Wembanyama grimaces as he goes through the drill, pushing back to create tension.

"We do it to improve the stability of the body and to help warm up the legs," Alquier said. "You have a big pressure with the big toe, to push during the spring."

On off days, following his team practices and after he naps, Wembanyama spends two hours every evening with Alquier. Wembanyama uses weights but not for the direct purpose of slapping on pounds. Adding weight is a sensitive topic with Wembanyama and his advisers.

Wembanyama has a slight build, officially listed at 230 pounds, and it's already a discussion point for scouts who have watched him closely. For some, it will be an automatic reaction to insist he needs more bulk once he arrives in the NBA. But it will not be a priority, and it is a nonnegotiable item for the Wembanyama camp.

It was backed up strongly after Wembanyama spent 10 days training in Germany last year with Holger Geschwindner, known for his decades of work with future Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki. Geschwindner begged the French teen to ignore the coming calls for him to add too much weight because it might risk his career.

"The weight will come over time, you know, but the focus on weight is -- it's a mistake," Ndiaye said. "I'm 100 percent sure on that. If you put too much weight too quickly on Victor's body -- it's not going to last. For sure. He will be injury-prone."

Wembanyama has been eating five times a day for five years to help his muscles keep up with his bones. The plan is for him to gain strength but not necessarily gain a great deal of weight immediately.

"I don't see myself becoming, like, a really, really big guy," Wembanyama said.

Frame isn't the only thing NBA executives have been paying attention to. When they started to vet Wembanyama, they wondered why he would leave ASVEL, a team owned by San Antonio Spurs great Tony Parker that plays in the EuroLeague, the most competitive league in the world after the NBA. The last superstar European teen, Luka Doncic, had wanted to dominate Europe first and did so, winning the EuroLeague title and MVP with Real Madrid in 2018.

The answer: Wembanyama didn't have a great experience there last season. He had three different injuries that made it hard for him to get steady playing time. And a more demanding schedule meant less time for practice, development and recovery. Under pressure to compete for the continental title as well as the French league crown, there was less tolerance for a teenager's mistakes.

"With our team, you know, you have veteran guys, so just the flow and the mix of the team, it's different," said ASVEL guard David Lighty, a former star at Ohio State who has played in France for more than a decade. "For him to come to Paris was actually a better fit for him to get him ready for the next level in the NBA and really the role that he would play."

This is a gentle way of saying that at ASVEL, the team would not revolve around Wembanyama's preparation for the NBA. With the Mets, as they are known locally, that is the No. 1 mission. It's not veiled.

The Mets are stocked with younger players and Americans in their first year competing overseas. This was not done to increase the team's chances of winning; it is, instead, a formula that might lead to losing. But it did make it feasible to practice more regularly and more vigorously -- which is easier with young players than veterans -- in an effort to help Wembanyama get more quality reps.

Also, Vincent Collet was able to be Wembanyama's coach. Collet is one of the most respected French coaches in history, a five-time coach of the year in the French league and the national team coach for the past 14 years. Last year, with the team losing funding and in danger of being demoted to a lower division, Collet resigned as Mets coach to focus on coaching the national team -- until he heard from Ndiaye and Medjana that Wembanyama might want to play for him. Resignation canceled.

Contrary to a lot of the styles he has cultivated during his career, Collet is coaching Wembanyama differently than he had future NBA first-rounders in the past such as Batum, Alexis Ajinca and Frank Ntilikina. Collet allows for more mistakes, lets Wembanyama get away with more bad shots and is nurturing in a way he might not be if he were simply trying to win another league title.

Wembanyama likes to shoot jumpers. One-legged jumpers, spot-up jumpers -- and he averages four pull-up jumpers a game, which is not something normal for such a massive person. By Collet's own admission, if the rangy and super-talented Batum had tried this 15 years ago, the coach would've pulled him out of the game.

That freedom is something Wembanyama -- a player who now understands the power his talent has afforded him -- has come to prefer.

In 2019, when he was 15, Wembanyama had a lackluster outing in Spain at a showcase event, one of his first in front of major international scouts. He was being played out of his preferred position and wasn't a focal point of the offense. His effort and focus waned badly.

"I had literally zero responsibility. I never had the ball, even at practice. The coach played me at center," Wembanyama recalled. "I was really frustrated even coming to the game. I knew it wasn't going to go well. So it didn't go well."

That is not a concern with his current team, as everything is set up to make him comfortable. Not just to keep him happy or even to help the Mets win but because Collet knows his primary job is to get Wembanyama ready for the NBA.

"Often there is a problem with the very talented players; they can sometimes rely only on their skills and their higher ability to do moves, and that's sometimes his problem," Collet said. "OK, so opponents start to push him more to use his body. It's sometimes difficult for him to even catch the ball. When it happens, he mustn't go outside. He has to fight to find a way to get the ball where it's the most efficient."

This is what Collet works on with Wembanyama before and after practices and in film sessions. Yes, it is to help the team. But it is also for when he is in the NBA in a year and playing against the biggest, strongest and fastest players in the world.

It is one thing to be able to play for a great coach. But it is another when that coach, still very much in his prime at age 59, is willing to focus on building everything around improving a player he will say goodbye to at the end of the season.

"He's not used to coaching these types of teams because we're kind of special, you know?" Wembanyama said. "He's like a bible of basketball ... he doesn't give me too much freedom, so that also allows me to think about myself and think about how I could do things better for my teammates. I've been a million times wrong, a million mistakes in games this season already, but I feel like we're only getting better as a team. And we talk a lot. We talk a lot. And he always explains, you know, things calmly to me, even when he's angry."

But what has happened is Wembanyama has become the league's best player. He leads the Pro A League, as it's known, in points (22.2 per game), rebounds (9.5) and blocks (3.1) and is among the leaders in numerous other categories. The Mets, to genuine surprise considering the makeup of the team, are contenders.

Teams are trying different strategies on Wembanyama. They've double-teamed him, even when he doesn't have the ball. They've stopped trying to put centers on him and instead assign strong forwards as his primary defender, hoping to use strength to nullify his height.

It's an odd feeling for some of his teammates; this is not how teams in Europe typically operate. The mission still is to win, but developing and protecting Wembanyama is often a top priority, and everyone knows it's only for this season.

"Victor has been the elephant in the room the whole time. But we've learned to adapt to it and understand it," said Mets starting point guard and second-leading scorer Tremont Waters, who is playing his first year in France after spending the past three seasons on two-way contracts with three NBA teams.

"I know what I'm capable of doing, but as his point guard, I know what the team needs. He has all eyes on him. Whenever he feels free, we get him the ball and let him play. ... Basketball is about entertainment at the end of the day, and the people are coming to see Victor."

This Wembanyama-centric approach goes beyond his team. The league's finals coincide with the NBA draft, where Wembanyama will be the star of the show, and there has already been some discussion about changing the finals schedule in the event the Mets reach the championship round to accommodate a trip to New York.

"I've always played up in my life, so I've always been the young guy on the older team that you expect to defend hard and pass the ball," Wembanyama said. "So I got that status, of a good French league player; I didn't have this much opportunity to do this."

ONE AFTERNOON SHORTLY after his 19th birthday, Wembanyama and Medjana meet for lunch at an Italian restaurant in the leafy and quiet neighborhood along the River Seine where Wembanyama is living.

Truffles are in season, and Victor loves it, ordering a pizza and pasta dish with them featured. His appetite is strong, and so he reaches over to sample Medjana's carpaccio, too. They turn to the topic of the draft lottery, the night in mid-May when his future NBA team will be decided.

This is a subject that doesn't come up much between the two; Wembanyama has watched very few full NBA games this season. He studies some of its stars, especially Durant and the way he uses his footwork to get his 7-foot frame into advantageous positions to score. And, of course, he watches the league standings.

"Let's just say I've been following along, but it's easier to watch teams at the top of the standings," Wembanyama says between bites. "It's a little hard to look down."

He doesn't allow himself to project where he'll end up, he said. But when Medjana pulls up the standings on his phone, Wembanyama knows the bottom-dwelling teams that are in contention for him without looking. They go through them without comment: San Antonio, Detroit, Charlotte, Houston.

As he twirls linguine around his fork, Wembanyama says flatly: "There is no wrong team."

"I am not worried; there is no bad organization," he said. "I never tell myself I don't like to go there."

And the conversation is over.

[Ariel]

(continues: couldn't post it all in once, as it was too long...)

There is some pressure building now. As he works on his daily routine -- sleep, eat, film, practice, eat, sleep, eat, workout, stretch, eat and sleep again -- to prep for his American arrival, his team has thoughts of trophies coming first.

The amount of scouts and information gathering around Wembanyama is growing as teams deploy small armies to France to learn as much as they can about him. The interview requests keep coming in, most of them turned down. There's the documentary he is producing. Corporations want pitch meetings to get him to promote their products. And he is learning as much as he can before he makes the jump everyone outside his small circle can't stop thinking about.

When he has an extra few minutes, he tries to read. In hotel rooms during down time, he draws, something he has loved since he was a child. When he came to Dallas last summer for three weeks of workouts in his first trip to America, one of the first things he requested was a trip to buy drawing tools and supplies.

"Sometimes [I draw] for five minutes, sometimes for two hours," Wembanyama said. "If I was another person, I think I would've loved going to college [in the U.S.]."

It's not just a front; his teammates and coaches confirm that when they board buses and trains for road games, he spends more time with his book than his phone. He likes classical music and has studied art. Spending time with him during these momentous days, this mindset is clear: He is embracing what is coming and enjoying what is here.

"Basketball didn't change for me; it's more the outside. More responsibilities, more -- expectations. ... But it's still the same game, and I'm still having as much fun," Wembanyama said.

"The only thing I can tell you is I love winning, and I hate losing. I want to build something that eventually is going to be remembered. But it's more about building every day, adding a little piece to the building every day."

[JPB]

Preparing for the NBA's Victor Wembanyama revolution (https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/35690491/preparing-nba-victor-wembanyama-revolution)

"I am not worried; there is no bad organization," he said. "I never tell myself I don't like to go there."



:cry

[The Truth #6]

Just curious. I guess it’s assumed he has a strong relationship with Tony Parker…?

[Ariel]

:cry
If he lands in Houston he'll change his tune pretty quickly, and KPJ and/or Jalen Green will get traded by midseason.

[Ariel]

Just curious. I guess it’s assumed he has a strong relationship with Tony Parker…?
I wouldn't bet my life on it:
Frame isn't the only thing NBA executives have been paying attention to. When they started to vet Wembanyama, they wondered why he would leave ASVEL, a team owned by San Antonio Spurs great Tony Parker that plays in the EuroLeague, the most competitive league in the world after the NBA. The last superstar European teen, Luka Doncic, had wanted to dominate Europe first and did so, winning the EuroLeague title and MVP with Real Madrid in 2018.

The answer: Wembanyama didn't have a great experience there last season. He had three different injuries that made it hard for him to get steady playing time. And a more demanding schedule meant less time for practice, development and recovery. Under pressure to compete for the continental title as well as the French league crown, there was less tolerance for a teenager's mistakes.

"With our team, you know, you have veteran guys, so just the flow and the mix of the team, it's different," said ASVEL guard David Lighty, a former star at Ohio State who has played in France for more than a decade. "For him to come to Paris was actually a better fit for him to get him ready for the next level in the NBA and really the role that he would play."

This is a gentle way of saying that at ASVEL, the team would not revolve around Wembanyama's preparation for the NBA. With the Mets, as they are known locally, that is the No. 1 mission. It's not veiled.

[exstatic]

I wouldn't bet my life on it:
Frame isn't the only thing NBA executives have been paying attention to. When they started to vet Wembanyama, they wondered why he would leave ASVEL, a team owned by San Antonio Spurs great Tony Parker that plays in the EuroLeague, the most competitive league in the world after the NBA. The last superstar European teen, Luka Doncic, had wanted to dominate Europe first and did so, winning the EuroLeague title and MVP with Real Madrid in 2018.

The answer: Wembanyama didn't have a great experience there last season. He had three different injuries that made it hard for him to get steady playing time. And a more demanding schedule meant less time for practice, development and recovery. Under pressure to compete for the continental title as well as the French league crown, there was less tolerance for a teenager's mistakes.

"With our team, you know, you have veteran guys, so just the flow and the mix of the team, it's different," said ASVEL guard David Lighty, a former star at Ohio State who has played in France for more than a decade. "For him to come to Paris was actually a better fit for him to get him ready for the next level in the NBA and really the role that he would play."

This is a gentle way of saying that at ASVEL, the team would not revolve around Wembanyama's preparation for the NBA. With the Mets, as they are known locally, that is the No. 1 mission. It's not veiled.


ASVEL, as stated, was the wrong place for him to develop. He may not have a strong relationship with Tony, but it’s probably positive. Tony was Moses, leading French basketball players to the NBA. He opened the floodgates.

[thiste]

ASVEL, as stated, was the wrong place for him to develop. He may not have a strong relationship with Tony, but it’s probably positive. Tony was Moses, leading French basketball players to the NBA. He opened the floodgates.
Nah, Tariq Abdul Wahad was. :lol

[JPB]

Just curious. I guess it’s assumed he has a strong relationship with Tony Parker…?

Victor is a smart guy and understands a team like ASVEL couldn't revolve around him on and off the floor, reason why he left, which doesn't mean he's in bad terms with TP... You can be sure that if Victor lands in SA, they'll take together about the organisation and the city.

[BackHome]

I like that article about the coach telling the team not to put muscle on the kid as it would increase his chance of injury. I totally agree he needs to work on his core strength and flexibility he will put on muscle as he gets older when his bones and tendons are ready for the weight.

I remember when somebody posted a giff ssaying he looked he looked like a baby Giraffe it was funny as shit as the way he fell totally looked just like a baby Giraffe all legs falling all over the place..

[lefty]

Nah, Tariq Abdul Wahad was. :lol

[Rocalcio]

Nah, Tariq Abdul Wahad was. :lol

Rigaudeau was actually the first who was tested in a summer camp, he was a genius in Europe but never managed to translate that in the American League, just like Nando who is still dominating in Europe.

[ace3g]

https://twitter.com/SInow/status/1628092308569702400

[ace3g]

https://twitter.com/bballbreakdown/status/1628137041337921536

[Brazil]

Nah, Tariq Abdul Wahad was. :lol

:lol dear god, I had forgotten about him

[Thomas82]

I'm surprised nobody brought up the fact that Victor grew another inch. Here's one of the articles I saw about it yesterday:

https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/how-tall-victor-wembanyama-nba-prospects-height-grows-again

[ace3g]

https://twitter.com/DraftExpress/status/1628528406802362371

[sinok]

Rigaudeau was actually the first who was tested in a summer camp, he was a genius in Europe but never managed to translate that in the American League, just like Nando who is still dominating in Europe.

But then you could argue for Hervé Dubuisson, took part in a summer league with the nets in the early 80s.

[sinok]

-

[Sugus]

I don't think I've ever been more anxious about a draft, and a particular prospect to get. What a make-or-breaker, Jesus.


At the same time, though, I can't help the feeling that he'll fall on San Antonio's lap come draft night. Silver knows what's up, and wouldn't be the first rigged draft in NBA history by any means.

[stephen jackson]

I feel like he was made for us to carry us into our next generation . Please lord I get more excited every day

[K...]

I don't think I've ever been more anxious about a draft, and a particular prospect to get. What a make-or-breaker, Jesus.


At the same time, though, I can't help the feeling that he'll fall on San Antonio's lap come draft night. Silver knows what's up, and wouldn't be the first rigged draft in NBA history by any means.

SA has struck gold with an all american and an island boy who was pretty much fully american. Houston had a notable African and chinese big men and can add to their continental HOF big collection. While the spurs have some notable french players, i think houston wins the rigged lottery. I think silver would happily force SA to tank as long as possible . I dont think he hates us, more of a neglect.

[Rocalcio]

But then you could argue for Hervé Dubuisson, took part of a summer league with the nets in the early 80s.

Yes you're right, but Dubuisson wasn't the same kind of player. Don't get me wrong, he was good and I loved watching him play with his crazy hair, but Rigaudeau was another level. He could have been a very good NBA player.

[exstatic]

SA has struck gold with an all american and an island boy who was pretty much fully american. Houston had a notable African and chinese big men and can add to their continental HOF big collection. While the spurs have some notable french players, i think houston wins the rigged lottery. I think silver would happily force SA to tank as long as possible . I dont think he hates us, more of a neglect.

If it’s rigged, we probably get him. I think he’s the Next Thing, and the league would want him in a good developmental environment, not someplace like Houston.

[rascal]

I don't think I've ever been more anxious about a draft, and a particular prospect to get. What a make-or-breaker, Jesus.


At the same time, though, I can't help the feeling that he'll fall on San Antonio's lap come draft night. Silver knows what's up, and wouldn't be the first rigged draft in NBA history by any means.

It's not rigged. The Spurs would have never landed Robinson and then also get Duncan. Team representatives are in the drawing room at the lottery.

[slick'81]

Im not holding my breath we get wemby. I mean what are the odds?robinson/duncan/yama:lobt2:

[Rocalcio]

Im not holding my breath we get wemby. I mean what are the odds?robinson/duncan/yama:lobt2:

The last 1st pick for SA was more than 20 years ago, getting another one now wouldn’t be unfair.

[Sugus]

SA has struck gold with an all american and an island boy who was pretty much fully american. Houston had a notable African and chinese big men and can add to their continental HOF big collection. While the spurs have some notable french players, i think houston wins the rigged lottery. I think silver would happily force SA to tank as long as possible . I dont think he hates us, more of a neglect.

Wait, are you operating on the basis that the draft will be rigged on... Players' nationalities? That's an interesting POV, I guess. Not much going for it other than coincidence, though, as it'd be virtually impossible for the league to match top prospects and their nationalities with the teams that are tanking on a given year. Way too much noise in that data sample (and it also ignores the fact that the Rockettes have plenty of top, American, draftees, including their recent top-picks Jalen Green and Jabari Smith).

I also wouldn't think that the Spurs having had past success spearheaded by American players would give them worse "rigging odds", given they've been the international players / Euro-tied team for 20 years now. If any one team can be deemed as foreign accepting and good cultivating environment, so much as to rig the draft for, it's San Antonio without a doubt.

Of course, none of that means the draft will be rigged, I'm just musing on the optics of it.

[Sugus]

It's not rigged. The Spurs would have never landed Robinson and then also get Duncan. Team representatives are in the drawing room at the lottery.

Eh, the NBA has had enough sketchy drafts for it to be a legit possibility. What were the odds for the Cavs' third-1st-in-four-years pick, again? And the last thing that would matter is "team representatives", whoever those can be. If Silver actually wanted to rig the draft, there's a dozen ways to do it, from frozen envelopes (personal favorite) to weighted ping-pong balls.

None of this is saying it is rigged, but there's certainly little evidence for it not being rigged, either. We'll have to wait and see if the Spurs come out with the #1 pick in order to be certain :lol

[LeBowen]

All bias aside, having the most hyped prospect since Lebron get drafted by Rockets/Hornets/Pistons/Magic is a recipe for disaster.

Looking at top10 odds as things stand right now, only the Spurs, Pacers, Raptors and maybe Blazers could be trusted with young player development. Pacers being the only other franchise with decent odds at 9.5%.

At 14%, I don't even think about winning the lottery, but if I was a neutral I'd definitely hope Spurs win the lottery.

[K...]

Wait, are you operating on the basis that the draft will be rigged on... Players' nationalities? That's an interesting POV, I guess. Not much going for it other than coincidence, though, as it'd be virtually impossible for the league to match top prospects and their nationalities with the teams that are tanking on a given year. Way too much noise in that data sample (and it also ignores the fact that the Rockettes have plenty of top, American, draftees, including their recent top-picks Jalen Green and Jabari Smith).

I also wouldn't think that the Spurs having had past success spearheaded by American players would give them worse "rigging odds", given they've been the international players / Euro-tied team for 20 years now. If any one team can be deemed as foreign accepting and good cultivating environment, so much as to rig the draft for, it's San Antonio without a doubt.

Of course, none of that means the draft will be rigged, I'm just musing on the optics of it.

Hakeem is really iconic and the nba may prefer to drag him out rather than duncan or Drob.yao min isnt really a HOF guy but in a league desperate to avoid anti china animism it doesn't hurt to elevate him. Basically its a choice of marketing. This is where Duncan's lack of star power really bites us. Duncan likely doesn't want to mentor wemby. Its boring work.

Fwiw i hate the current houston team,. But i do think if they get the first pick they could turn it around. Fire the coaches, hire new staff, trade for vets. Its there if they want it . I refuse to believe they want to permanent tank. They avoided tanking so long with blockbuster trades and signings .

Spurs on the other hand are a good mentor club, but the nba will likely demand wemby star immediately and the spurs would need to get more media savvy in a hurry.

On paper LMA and derozan were about as good as houston's harden,.mcgrady, francis teams. But all those guys were big stars at the time. San antonio makes good role players but houston gets on TV.

[The Truth #6]

The rigged question is definitely tricky. On one hand, the league definitely have way too much influence on how the game is refereed and called, and to me it makes the game unwatchable often. As far as the actual lottery, it doesn’t totally feel like they’re playing favorites, so it’s hard to say. I would not be surprised if they were completely full of shit and they were doing so because corruption happens all the time with any billion dollar business, but I don’t see any obvious proof of it yet.

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

The rigged question is definitely tricky. On one hand, the league definitely have way too much influence on how the game is refereed and called, and to me it makes the game unwatchable often. As far as the actual lottery, it doesn’t totally feel like they’re playing favorites, so it’s hard to say. I would not be surprised if they were completely full of shit and they were doing so because corruption happens all the time with any billion dollar business, but I don’t see any obvious proof of it yet.

You mean New Orleans being owned by the NBA and getting the 1st pick (A Davis) a month after being sold wasn’t damn obvious?

[JeffDuncan]

There’s no reason for the NBA to rig the lottery. It’s unimportant for the league, overall, where Wemby goes on his rookie contract. This is especially true since early injuries are pretty frequent (Chet Holmgren most recently.) Why should Silver, or anybody else in the league office, care where Wemby goes to sit out a year? It doesn’t matter.

After Wemby proves to be a great player, if he does, that’s when it becomes important to the league where he is. At the time of his third contract, the league will prefer him to be in a major market, preferably LA, to maximize the audience and his value to the league. But not now.

[Mr. Body]

There’s no reason for the NBA to rig the lottery. It’s unimportant for the league, overall, where Wemby goes on his rookie contract. This is especially true since early injuries are pretty frequent (Chet Holmgren most recently.) Why should Silver, or anybody else in the league office, care where Wemby goes to sit out a year? It doesn’t matter.

After Wemby proves to be a great player, if he does, that’s when it becomes important to the league where he is. At the time of his third contract, the league will prefer him to be in a major market, preferably LA, to maximize the audience and his value to the league. But not now.

This seems like a good point. Especially after the league worked hard with ESPN to steer Kawhi out of SA and to Los Angeles, they eventually got it to happen.

[JPB]

Makes me think of an NFL Subreddit a few weeks ago where paranoid conspiracy theorists were explaining every NFL game was rigged so they got the 2 teams they wanted in the Super Bowl.

[Rocalcio]

22 points, 17 rebounds, 6 blocks and 4 steals for him this evening with the French Team against Czech Republic

[spurraider21]

i think we should draft him, personally

[Vince Carter's ankle]

1628863335390117888

[The Truth #6]

You mean New Orleans being owned by the NBA and getting the 1st pick (A Davis) a month after being sold wasn’t damn obvious?

I’m definitely not defending the league, and yeah, it looks totally ridiculous. But with a huge business like this, I guess I’m just looking at it from a money perspective, and New Orleans is a horrible basketball town for the NBA from what I’ve always been told, so it didn’t seem like there was much financial incentive for New Orleans to get the number one pick. I have to go back and look who the other cities were in the lottery, but I feel pretty confident that there would have been bigger market cities it would’ve benefited more. I don’t see why Detroit or Orlando would keep getting top picks.

[KingKev]

Unless Wemby commits to be a Spur for life and puts his full faith, trust and success in the hands of PATFO we should just reach for someone who will.

[K...]

Unless Wemby commits to be a Spur for life and puts his full faith, trust and success in the hands of PATFO we should just reach for someone who will.
Sarcasm? Wemby has said as much (Won't force his way out as a roockie). Given his injury risk he will take guarantee money. ?

[Mr. Body]

Unless Wemby commits to be a Spur for life and puts his full faith, trust and success in the hands of PATFO we should just reach for someone who will.

Thing about foreign players -- most American cities are disgusting wastelands of concrete freeways and fast food abysses. There's no difference between Oklahoma City and San Antonio. They all suck. Now, you might get lucky and live in Miami (before it's swallowed by the ocean) or NY. But it's all fresh and bizarrely new, no matter where you live. You can kind of do it like a nauseated anthropologist. Before long, after making some miillions of dollars, you're going back to your much cooler home country and drinking, like, first class wine and not fearing your grandmother has to go to the hospital and bankrupt everybody.

[SPURt]

I saw something on Twitter where someone said “Yao Ming walked so Wembanyama could run”. Then I was thinking of players like Chet Holmgren with Victor’s build and all the injuries. I hope he’s got Kareem’s durability. Even KD has had some serious injuries.

[CGD]

Unless Wemby commits to be a Spur for life and puts his full faith, trust and success in the hands of PATFO we should just reach for someone who will.

Spurs would have 5 years to make there case.

[Mr. Body]

I saw something on Twitter where someone said “Yao Ming walked so Wembanyama could run”. Then I was thinking of players like Chet Holmgren with Victor’s build and all the injuries. I hope he’s got Kareem’s durability. Even KD has had some serious injuries.

Personally I don't doubt Wembanyama is going to have injury issues. Just expect it.

[spurraider21]

wembanyama weighs 40 pounds more than Chet, so he's not quite as fragile. Yao weighed 310.

from a pure height/weight comp, closest player i can think of is Porzingis. but its also pretty clear that Wemby is a much more fluid athlete than KP ever was

[Goob]

He does need to gain a bit more muscle, but nothing too drastic imo.

[KingKev]

Unless Wemby commits to be a Spur for life and puts his full faith, trust and success in the hands of PATFO we should just reach for someone who will.

Hahah this was sarcasm but 1/3rd of this board agrees lol

[scott]

Hahah this was sarcasm but 1/3rd of this board agrees lol

Amazing that some even had to question if it was sarcasm :lol

[thiste]

22 points, 17 rebounds, 6 blocks and 4 steals for him this evening with the French Team against Czech Republic

And it really was more like 12 blocks honestly. I don't know how they count them.

[Seventyniner]

And it really was more like 12 blocks honestly. I don't know how they count them.

By 0.5s, evidently.

[offset formation]

22 points, 17 rebounds, 6 blocks and 4 steals for him this evening with the French Team against Czech Republic

Pffft. 3rd pick stuff at best

[offset formation]

Hahah this was sarcasm but 1/3rd of this board agrees lol

Nope.

Wemby is not Scoot. He's generational. Scoot may not be better than Maxey. Wemby isn't attributed to have said things about small market teams. Wemby cannot be compared to Scoot and 1/3 of this boards consideration of trading out of #2. Only an absolute moron wouldn't rake Wemby first overall. There's no comparison. Fail.

[Barfunk]

14% is better than nothing, but not enough to get my hopes up. I'm just hoping for a top 5 pick at the very least, and that's what the worst record guarantees us from what people have been saying here. It would be nice to draft Wemby though and get at least a championship or 2 outta him before ESPN and the league force him to be traded to Los Angeles.

[offset formation]

14% is better than nothing, but not enough to get my hopes up. I'm just hoping for a top 5 pick at the very least, and that's what the worst record guarantees us from what people have been saying here. It would be nice to draft Wemby though and get at least a championship or 2 outta him before ESPN and the league force him to be traded to Los Angeles.

Correct.

Worst record is guaranteed a top 5. Second worst a top 6. Third worst a top 7, Fourth worst a top 8. And 5th worst, a top 9.

After that it gets a bit weird with gaps in the guarantee and whatnot.

[John B]

If it’s rigged, we probably get him. I think he’s the Next Thing, and the league would want him in a good developmental environment, not someplace like Houston.

Great point. Spurs would be the best possible franchise for the future NBA great to have a long fruitful career.

[Barfunk]

Correct.

Worst record is guaranteed a top 5. Second worst a top 6. Third worst a top 7, Fourth worst a top 8. And 5th worst, a top 9.

After that it gets a bit weird with gaps in the guarantee and whatnot.

So, confirmed. Yeah, so it looks like we should really shoot for the stars and get that worst record.

[ace3g]

https://twitter.com/ZachLowe_NBA/status/1629182780025323522

[Dejounte]

https://twitter.com/clutchfans/status/1629220656351936514?s

https://twitter.com/rooshwilliams/status/1629197570487746560?s

Yet supposedly team culture doesnt matter and talent supersedes character. Wemba’s career would probably be ruined if he landed on the current Rockets (with no changes to FO personnel)

[KingKev]

^ everyone knows the Rockets have a shitty culture. We are tied for dead last with the Rockets so our culture is not exactly something to write home about anymore either.

[K...]

^ everyone knows the Rockets have a shitty culture. We are tied for dead last with the Rockets so our culture is not exactly something to write home about anymore either.

I think its telling thought the spurs have had no dominant cancer. You Can't say everyone hasn't gotten their shot. Plus we're on our first tank year and houston is on year 3. Brian wright has full support and pop is loved. It could go to shit but this season has been great.

People use “culture“ like racists use woke....a catchall for things they dont like.

[Dejounte]

Culture =\ where you are in the standings

All things equal (meaning if we pretend there are two Wembas in the draft) A team with Wemba #1 and a decent culture will be lifted from the bottom of the standings sooner than a bad culture team like the Rockets with Wemba #2.

Good culture allows pieces to fit. Bad culture creates chaos and instability and giving your star player more reasons to leave when their contract is up.

[rascal]

Culture =\ where you are in the standings

All things equal (meaning if we pretend there are two Wembas in the draft) A team with Wemba #1 and a decent culture will be lifted from the bottom of the standings sooner than a bad culture team like the Rockets with Wemba #2.

Good culture allows pieces to fit. Bad culture creates chaos and instability and giving your star player more reasons to leave when their contract is up.

Cut the culture nonsesne out. Any team with Wemby will be improved. The Rockets have won championships with Hakeem.

[Dejounte]

Cut the culture nonsesne out. Any team with Wemby will be improved. The Rockets have won championships with Hakeem.

Did I say they won’t be improved? I said it will take longer. Of course anything nuanced is nonsense to you. You view everything as black and white.

[ace3g]

9:21 - 2nd




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31


GS
26
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32

[ace3g]

9:21 - 2nd




1
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HOU
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welp...

8:16 - 2nd




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[BackHome]

If we get Wemb...he is not going to make much of a difference his first year as the Spurs will be very careful with him - He needs to be brought along very slow and definitely not thrown to the wolves or he will end up like Chet with a season ending injury.

[scott]

Interesting clip going around on twitter of Wemby getting bullied by a shorter dude in the paint. Makes you think his position is definition more of a 3/4 than a 5.

[ace3g]

Interesting clip going around on twitter of Wemby getting bullied by a shorter dude in the paint. Makes you think his position is definition more of a 3/4 than a 5.

Blue font, never thought I would see consensus #1 pick get dunked on before.

Back to reality, he is better suited for perimeter defense and weak side block shots with his current frame.

[scott]

Blue font, never thought I would see consensus #1 pick get dunked on before.

Back to reality, he is better suited for perimeter defense and weak side block shots with his current frame.

He didn’t merely get dunked on, he got bodied and bullied. It doesn’t take away from him as a prospect, but it does reinforce the idea that he is not a C at this point (which is the point you made).

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

I completely disagree that Wembanyama isn't a C, even currently at his weight and thin frame. His absolute best skill is rim protection and he'd be way more efficient playing drop defense the way Embiid or Jokic do instead of chasing players on the perimeter. Defensively, that is, offense is a little bit of a different manner. Point is, it's difficult to find a perfect big to pair with him because the standard rim running ones (say Duren) will occupy the space that Wemby is at his best at defensively. I'd actually say that a better rebounding Sochan would be near ideal and way better in the long run than any traditional C.

It means absolutely nothing that a 19 year old got bullied and dunked on. Of course it'll happen, who cares. But this isn't nearly as important as it has been 20 years ago and neither is it important for his team in his first couple of years in the NBA.

[Dejounte]

Wemba has never been the flawless prospect no matter what the Wemba enthusiasts say. He will be scrutinized the minute his weaknesses are exposed with all the hype surrounding him. He’s going to get bullied inside and he’s going to be blown by NBA guards on the perimeter. Those are two legitimate things that will happen no matter how many excuses others will give. Despite all that, you still draft him because the upside is legendary. You try to hide his very large (at this time) deficiencies as best you can. As noted in a previous post, he joined a team where the goal has been to make him the first option and to make his numbers look pretty. Underneath it all is a player who will show he has serious things to work on when he gets to the NBA.

[exstatic]

Interesting clip going around on twitter of Wemby getting bullied by a shorter dude in the paint. Makes you think his position is definition more of a 3/4 than a 5.

I’ve NEVER thought of him as a 5, and anyone who plays him there is utilizing about 50% of his skill set. He’s a bigger Durant.

[Dejounte]

I completely disagree that Wembanyama isn't a C, even currently at his weight and thin frame. His absolute best skill is rim protection and he'd be way more efficient playing drop defense the way Embiid or Jokic do instead of chasing players on the perimeter. Defensively, that is, offense is a little bit of a different manner. Point is, it's difficult to find a perfect big to pair with him because the standard rim running ones (say Duren) will occupy the space that Wemby is at his best at defensively. I'd actually say that a better rebounding Sochan would be near ideal and way better in the long run than any traditional C.

It means absolutely nothing that a 19 year old got bullied and dunked on. Of course it'll happen, who cares. But this isn't nearly as important as it has been 20 years ago and neither is it important for his team in his first couple of years in the NBA.


This is spot on. Given the difficulty I found finding full games of Mets 92 online, I highly doubt people here have tried to watch anything but highlights of Wemba. Here’s one:


https://youtu.be/fjMEE18gqvo

I don’t think anyone who watches these games would call him “not a C”. Wemba barely moves his feet when guarding on the perimeter. Dude is going to get his ankles broken in the NBA if he’s going to be defending the perimeter full time. He’s noticeably orbiting the paint area because that’s where he’s more comfortable. His energy level will drop immensely if he’s tasked with defending wings and switched on guards. He was breathing heavily during the first quarter of the Ignite game. Fatigue is a concern with taller players like Wemba.

[Dejounte]

The more I watch these full games, the more I observe that Wemba is an opportunistic defender and not an engaged one. That’s a trait most commonly found in big men and not of one expected to be a perimeter defender. The intensity and energy level that’s gotta be there in today’s game of switch, switch, switch (sort of what we see in Sochan) is not there in Wemba. In some of these plays, his intensity is so low it would make Luka Samanic blush.

What he could be great at is anchoring the defense with his ability to deter shots with his length in the same manner Poeltl did or Tim did. I don’t see how he couldn’t get to Poeltl’s level easily as Poeltl wasn’t a great one on one big man defender either.

[sinok]

This is spot on. Given the difficulty I found finding full games of Mets 92 online, I highly doubt people here have tried to watch anything but highlights of Wemba. Here’s one:


https://youtu.be/fjMEE18gqvo

I don’t think anyone who watches these games would call him “not a C”. Wemba barely moves his feet when guarding on the perimeter. Dude is going to get his ankles broken in the NBA if he’s going to be defending the perimeter full time. He’s noticeably orbiting the paint area because that’s where he’s more comfortable. His energy level will drop immensely if he’s tasked with defending wings and switched on guards. He was breathing heavily during the first quarter of the Ignite game. Fatigue is a concern with taller players like Wemba.

You'll find quite a few Mets92 games on https://www.lnb.tv/

[buttsR4rebounding]

https://twitter.com/clutchfans/status/1629220656351936514?s

https://twitter.com/rooshwilliams/status/1629197570487746560?s

Yet supposedly team culture doesnt matter and talent supersedes character. Wemba’s career would probably be ruined if he landed on the current Rockets (with no changes to FO personnel)

You’ve got it all wrong. They just need to bring back James Harden to right the ship.

[rascal]

Did I say they won’t be improved? I said it will take longer. Of course anything nuanced is nonsense to you. You view everything as black and white.

It won't necessarily take longer either.

I will say it will take longer with San Antonio than it will with Detroit.
Detroit already has some good young players. I'd trade the current Spur roster for Detroit's.

[Dejounte]

It won't necessarily take longer either.

I will say it will take longer with San Antonio than it will with Detroit.
Detroit already has some good young players. I'd trade the current Spur roster for Detroit's.

People also thought the Rockets would be good by now. I can dig up those posts if I have to. You take an unsurprising position because you’re caught up in the present and have binary views about how things are run. I don’t know why I waste my time.

athleticism player, no athleticism player derp
culture, no culture derp
talent, no talent derp

all 1’s and 0’s. No depth, no interesting views

[Ariel]

I completely disagree that Wembanyama isn't a C, even currently at his weight and thin frame. His absolute best skill is rim protection and he'd be way more efficient playing drop defense the way Embiid or Jokic do instead of chasing players on the perimeter. Defensively, that is, offense is a little bit of a different manner. Point is, it's difficult to find a perfect big to pair with him because the standard rim running ones (say Duren) will occupy the space that Wemby is at his best at defensively. I'd actually say that a better rebounding Sochan would be near ideal and way better in the long run than any traditional C.

It means absolutely nothing that a 19 year old got bullied and dunked on. Of course it'll happen, who cares. But this isn't nearly as important as it has been 20 years ago and neither is it important for his team in his first couple of years in the NBA.
Wemby won't play center, if only for 2 things:
1) his body frame makes it a huge risk, as Chet's season ending injury before even stepping onto an NBA court exemplifies.
2) he said he prefers not to. That in itself will be enough for PATFO not to push it.

[K...]

[QUOTE=Ariel;10869132]Wemby won't play center, if only for 2 things:
1) his body frame makes it a huge risk, as Chet's season ending injury before even stepping onto an NBA court exemplifies.
2) he said he prefers not to. That in itself will be enough for PATFO not to push it.[/QUOTE

he should get the LMA/Time special and get a fake position and just play their game. focus on mismatches on offense and give him the weakest player to defend. get at least one veteran to bang and give out fouls, maybe set wemby up to take the dominant big after they get tired, or for key positions. He's going to see a bit of everything via pick and roll coverage anyway.

[scott]

1629293871942303744

Here is the vid of him getting bodied. It's just one play, but can you imagine Embiid backing him down?

(Jeff Garcia of course can be a major troll shit-stirrer sometimes, this is acknowledged)

[Mr. Body]

https://twitter.com/clutchfans/status/1629220656351936514?s

https://twitter.com/rooshwilliams/status/1629197570487746560?s

Yet supposedly team culture doesnt matter and talent supersedes character. Wemba’s career would probably be ruined if he landed on the current Rockets (with no changes to FO personnel)

Shit year for Silas. His dad dies and he has to handle the chaotic gaggle of idiots he has as players. Cutting Porter Jr. is right. Jalen Green is an AAU hound who doesn't care about real basketball. Tari Eason was a weirdo on LSU. Eric Gordon was desperate to get out. The rest of the team are chuckers.

I feel sorry for Sengun. Somehow he has to get out of there.

[Mr. Body]

1629293871942303744

Here is the vid of him getting bodied. It's just one play, but can you imagine Embiid backing him down?

(Jeff Garcia of course can be a major troll shit-stirrer sometimes, this is acknowledged)

Wemby will have to be protected. Chet Holmgren is built like an ox compared to him and Chet crumbled the instant LeBron James touched him on a fast break.

[LeBowen]

1629293871942303744

Here is the vid of him getting bodied. It's just one play, but can you imagine Embiid backing him down?

(Jeff Garcia of course can be a major troll shit-stirrer sometimes, this is acknowledged)

If we get him, he's most definitely not going to play C, at least not for a couple of years.
No point in risking anything.

Not going to lie, I'm a pessimist when it comes to his longetivity and health. Obviously winning the lottery means you must draft him, but I wouldn't be unhappy with the second pick.

[R. DeMurre]

Wembanyama has actually said his preferred position in the NBA is power forward and not center, which I think is the best use of his defensive skills. He'd be a much more imposing weak side helper/ free safety sort of defender than an on ball guy. The Celtics realized this last year with Robert Williams lll, and when they let him roam more he caused greater defensive havoc. If he's put on an opposing team's worst three point shooting forward, he'll be able to patrol the paint and midrange area with that 8' wingspan and has the potential to be a better version of Evan Mobley, who's a pretty great defender/DPOY candidate already with a wingspan that's 8" shorter than Wemby's.

[rascal]

I’ve NEVER thought of him as a 5, and anyone who plays him there is utilizing about 50% of his skill set. He’s a bigger Durant.

You don't want him on the perimeter shooting 3's although he can occasionally hit one from time to time.

He needs to play center for interior rim protection and rebounding on defense.

Need to use him near the basket for finishing on lob dunks and put backs so center is the best position for him
although he can pull his man out with an occasional perimeter shot but the Spurs need better perimeter shooters in the lineup than wemby shooting 3's.

[rascal]

Wembanyama has actually said his preferred position in the NBA is power forward and not center, which I think is the best use of his defensive skills. He'd be a much more imposing weak side helper/ free safety sort of defender than an on ball guy. The Celtics realized this last year with Robert Williams lll, and when they let him roam more he caused greater defensive havoc. If he's put on an opposing team's worst three point shooting forward, he'll be able to patrol the paint and midrange area with that 8' wingspan and has the potential to be a better version of Evan Mobley, who's a pretty great defender/DPOY candidate already with a wingspan that's 8" shorter than Wemby's.

Then where does Sochan play?

[Alain]

Some people here, if they'd ever find a unicorn, would look at it as a horse with a weird hairstyle.

[JPB]

You don't want him on the perimeter shooting 3's although he can occasionally hit one from time to time.

He needs to play center for interior rim protection and rebounding on defense.

Need to use him near the basket for finishing on lob dunks and put backs so center is the best position for him
although he can pull his man out with an occasional perimeter shot but the Spurs need better perimeter shooters in the lineup than wemby shooting 3's.

Nothing personal, but this factually has to be the most terrible, uneducated take I've ever read here... Just wow!

Wemby hasn't and still isn't succesfully working on all his perimeter moves and shoots to just become Shawn Bradley... There's a reason is projected as a generational talent. He is actually a taller Durant who can protect the rim.

[Harry Callahan]

I have a funny feeling the SAS's will end up with Wemby in the draft. The Commissioner will HATE that as well as the media, which would make me happy.

I also have no feel for what he'll be as opposed to the other #1's the Spurs had. Kind of a weird body makeup makes me wonder about durability. He seems quite skilled.

[Mr. Body]

Wembanyama has actually said his preferred position in the NBA is power forward and not center, which I think is the best use of his defensive skills. He'd be a much more imposing weak side helper/ free safety sort of defender than an on ball guy. The Celtics realized this last year with Robert Williams lll, and when they let him roam more he caused greater defensive havoc. If he's put on an opposing team's worst three point shooting forward, he'll be able to patrol the paint and midrange area with that 8' wingspan and has the potential to be a better version of Evan Mobley, who's a pretty great defender/DPOY candidate already with a wingspan that's 8" shorter than Wemby's.

Not sure about the Evan Mobley comp, but for sure on the rest. Wemby will be an incredible help defender more than an individual one.

[R. DeMurre]

Then where does Sochan play?


That's a good question, and something they'll have to consider if they are lucky enough to land Victor. Depending on the match ups, Sochan maybe plays like Larry Nance Jr in New Orleans, as a small ball center, and other times as a SF. His potential defensive versatility is why I liked him originally in the draft, so I think he'd be able to adapt to playing alongside Wembanyama if that's what's called for.

[R. DeMurre]

Not sure about the Evan Mobley comp, but for sure on the rest. Wemby will be an incredible help defender more than an individual one.


Why don't you like the comp? Do you think Mobley is a better defender in space? I agree that might be the case. But that extra 8" of wingspan is sure a big deal in my eyes. The thing that constantly surprise me with Wembanyama is him getting to three point shooters when it at first looks like he's too far off, and also blocking guys in the paint after they've already apparently "beaten" him... the number of times I've seen him reach back for a block on a guy who's gotten by him is astonishing. They're the equivalent of run down blocks, but he's not running-- he's simply reaching.

[Mr. Body]

Why don't you like the comp? Do you think Mobley is a better defender in space? I agree that might be the case. But that extra 8" of wingspan is sure a big deal in my eyes. The thing that constantly surprise me with Wembanyama is him getting to three point shooters when it at first looks like he's too far off, and also blocking guys in the paint after they've already apparently "beaten" him... the number of times I've seen him reach back for a block on a guy who's gotten by him is astonishing. They're the equivalent of run down blocks, but he's not running-- he's simply reaching.

Wembanyama can't be a better version of Mobley because they're just different defenders. Mobley is stronger and quicker on the perimeter. Wembanyama probably won't ever guard the post very well unless a player just tries to shoot over him. And he's not very quick on the perimeter with his feet, although his length is considerable.

[Rocalcio]

If we get Wemb...he is not going to make much of a difference his first year as the Spurs will be very careful with him - He needs to be brought along very slow and definitely not thrown to the wolves or he will end up like Chet with a season ending injury.

Stop assuming he will be injured, he hasn’t been all season long, and his team (meaning the basketball team but also personal coaches, nutritionist…) his focusing on making sure his body will be ready for the NBA.

[Thomas82]

Some people here, if they'd ever find a unicorn, would look at it as a horse with a weird hairstyle.

Facts!! And not everybody will catch that.

[TD 21]

Spurs discussion starts around 14:50: The Lowe Post - Jonathan Givony | ESPN (https://www.espn.com/radio/play/_/id/35727192)

Givony clarifies that Wembanyama's contention isn't so much with playing C (he does so for his current team), it's with being put in a traditional C box.

As with most of the skilled, hybrid bigs when they enter the league, the goal should be to have a clear path to minutes at both C and PF, which the Spurs now have. Ultimately though, like all of them he'll be best long term as a C.

He'll more than likely never be equipped to guard the Jokic's and Embiid's in the post with little to no help, but few can and they're on a different timeline anyway.

[KingKev]

Shit year for Silas. His dad dies and he has to handle the chaotic gaggle of idiots he has as players. Cutting Porter Jr. is right. Jalen Green is an AAU hound who doesn't care about real basketball. Tari Eason was a weirdo on LSU. Eric Gordon was desperate to get out. The rest of the team are chuckers.

I feel sorry for Sengun. Somehow he has to get out of there.

Tari Eason is going to be a solid NBA player.

[spurraider21]

Wemby will have to be protected. Chet Holmgren is built like an ox compared to him and Chet crumbled the instant LeBron James touched him on a fast break.
Wenby has 40 pounds on Chet. Chet is a significantly better and more engaged perimeter defender though

[Ariel]

Shit year for Silas. His dad dies and he has to handle the chaotic gaggle of idiots he has as players. Cutting Porter Jr. is right. Jalen Green is an AAU hound who doesn't care about real basketball. Tari Eason was a weirdo on LSU. Eric Gordon was desperate to get out. The rest of the team are chuckers.

I feel sorry for Sengun. Somehow he has to get out of there.
Silas isn't a victim, he's responsible for what's been going on in Houston (not the only one, though). Their brand of tanking comes at a very high cost, they may end up ruining good prospects or frustrating them to the point where they'll demand a trade out of the franchise. They've taken it too far.

[exstatic]

Silas isn't a victim, he's responsible for what's been going on in Houston (not the only one, though). Their brand of tanking comes at a very high cost, they may end up ruining good prospects or frustrating them to the point where they'll demand a trade out of the franchise. They've taken it too far.

Unless you’re Greg Popovich, no coach gets to make the decision to tank. That decision comes from the front office and ownership.

[KingKev]

Unless you’re Greg Popovich, no coach gets to make the decision to tank. That decision comes from the front office and ownership.

Pop isn’t outright tanking. Our front office finally had enough and said we are going to be so talentless not even Pop can coach this team to wins. By mid season we hit a point of no return with the play-in far out of reach and now I feel Pop got the message.

Rest assured if this team over acheived we’d be gunning for the play-in if it was even slightly attainable.

[Ariel]

Unless you’re Greg Popovich, no coach gets to make the decision to tank. That decision comes from the front office and ownership.
Sure, but there's a difference between leading a rebuilding effort (i.e., tanking) and giving up your dignity in order to keep your job job. You should still lead your team, be able to decide on playing time and tactics, and help develop your players. If that's not the case, he should just resign. By not doing so he's making sure no one else hires him after he's served his purpose and the organization deems him expendable. So whether he's incompetent or a pu$$y, he's responsible either way.

[Spursfanfromafar]

<wrong thread> Deleted.

[spurraider21]

Today i learned that Wemby isn’t a literally flawless prospect who is a guaranteed GOAT

[Mr. Body]

Silas isn't a victim, he's responsible for what's been going on in Houston (not the only one, though). Their brand of tanking comes at a very high cost, they may end up ruining good prospects or frustrating them to the point where they'll demand a trade out of the franchise. They've taken it too far.

Silas came on thinking he was going to coach C-Paul and Harden, didn't he? Then he got the worst owner in sports, he got this gaggle of fucktards, and word is he is instructed on how many minutes to play them.

Not saying he's a good coach -- probably isn't -- but he seems like an alright guy. The million dollar salary will have to help, though.

[ace3g]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6TxUARM0F4

[Ariel]

Silas came on thinking he was going to coach C-Paul and Harden, didn't he? Then he got the worst owner in sports, he got this gaggle of fucktards, and word is he is instructed on how many minutes to play them.

Not saying he's a good coach -- probably isn't -- but he seems like an alright guy. The million dollar salary will have to help, though.
Precisely my point. If he goes along with it, he's part of the problem. Hope he saves the money, because the organization is going to fire his a$$ sooner rather than later, and he'll struggle to find another job after this.

[Mr. Body]

Precisely my point. If he goes along with it, he's part of the problem. Hope he saves the money, because the organization is going to fire his a$$ sooner rather than later, and he'll struggle to find another job after this.

Given how cheap Fertita apparently is, they aren't going to fire him.

Dunno, man, you walk away from a million dollar contract.

[Thomas82]

Sure, but there's a difference between leading a rebuilding effort (i.e., tanking) and giving up your dignity in order to keep your job job. You should still lead your team, be able to decide on playing time and tactics, and help develop your players. If that's not the case, he should just resign. By not doing so he's making sure no one else hires him after he's served his purpose and the organization deems him expendable. So whether he's incompetent or a pu$$y, he's responsible either way.

This is exactly what happened with ML Carr and the Celtics in 1997.

[ace3g]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6XTfuVTLV0

[Ariel]

https://www.fiba.basketball/basketballworldcup/2023/european-qualifiers/game/2602/France-Lithuania#tab=boxscore
15 pts (5/10 fg), 3 rbs, 1 ast, 3 blk, 1 stl, 1 to

[Russ]

Kind of a weird body makeup makes me wonder about durability.

Wemby's build reminds me more of Abdul-Jabbar than Durant. AJ was pretty durable.

[baseline bum]

Wemby's build reminds me more of Abdul-Jabbar than Durant. AJ was pretty durable.

His build reminds me way more of Sampson than Kareem.

[Russ]

His build reminds me way more of Sampson than Kareem.

I don't think so. He'll fill out, Sampson never did.

[BackHome]

Stop assuming he will be injured, he hasn’t been all season long, and his team (meaning the basketball team but also personal coaches, nutritionist…) his focusing on making sure his body will be ready for the NBA.

Rob I know you been following your boy Wemb...just curious what your thoughts on his team mate Bilan Coulibaly SF? So far my two favorite early second round picks is him and PF Azuolas Tubelis..

[Rocalcio]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6TxUARM0F4

So if you listen to Chuck, if you didn't go to College you won't be great in the NBA ? Doncic and Jokic agree...

[exstatic]

So if you listen to Chuck, if you didn't go to College you won't be great in the NBA ? Doncic and Jokic agree...

Does he know that GINOBILI didn’t go to college.

I think the important thing is to play a competitive level of organized basketball. The French league would qualify. I can think of 5 FRPs that made the jump directly.

[Dejounte]

Wemby's build reminds me more of Abdul-Jabbar than Durant. AJ was pretty durable.

Yeah, Durant comparison starts and ends with Wemba’s ability to be an elite shooter at his size. The 10 min highlights show Wemba going full speed and those 10 mins are about the only 10 mins he’s actually being mobile in a full game. Durant’s a lot more mobile out there. Wemba is Wemba and is really a combination of multiple players. He’ll be great but I don’t think many people really understand how his game will be in the NBA.

This isn’t making a unicorn look not like a unicorn, this is an opinion from someone who’s not fearful of pointing out both strengths and weaknesses from a player considered to be the next great thing. I mean, LeBron couldnt shoot in his first five years and it haunted him to the point of the Spurs exposing it in the Finals by giving him 10 ft. Folks are afraid to give any sort of criticism to a player they’ve put on a pedestal. Wemba will likely go on to be great, but it’s fine to talk about every element of his game.

[Brazil]

Yes you're right, but Dubuisson wasn't the same kind of player. Don't get me wrong, he was good and I loved watching him play with his crazy hair, but Rigaudeau was another level. He could have been a very good NBA player.

Herve Dubuisson.. that's real old school stuff :lol on the next generation I was a big fan of Dacoury, always thought probably wrongly that he could have been a solid rotation player in the NBA...

[Brazil]

also rascal takes are hilariously bad :lol

Victor will play PF, he will shoot from 3s, he will block shots far from the basket, he will try to make plays.. that's who he is and why you draft him not for being a rim protector full time... that's some silly talk. You don't want him to defend Jokic :lol

[Rocalcio]

Herve Dubuisson.. that's real old school stuff :lol on the next generation I was a big fan of Dacoury, always thought probably wrongly that he could have been a solid rotation player in the NBA...

Foirest too.

T’es français non ?

[Brazil]

Foirest too.

T’es français non ?

and Forte !

Pour connaitre Dacoury oblige... lol

[Truckules]

Wemba has never been the flawless prospect no matter what the Wemba enthusiasts say. He will be scrutinized the minute his weaknesses are exposed with all the hype surrounding him. He’s going to get bullied inside and he’s going to be blown by NBA guards on the perimeter. Those are two legitimate things that will happen no matter how many excuses others will give. Despite all that, you still draft him because the upside is legendary. You try to hide his very large (at this time) deficiencies as best you can. As noted in a previous post, he joined a team where the goal has been to make him the first option and to make his numbers look pretty. Underneath it all is a player who will show he has serious things to work on when he gets to the NBA.

If he has to defend guards on the perimeter with any regularity then whoever the coach is needs to be fired. Also, with his length, he's still going to affect shots even when players get a step or two on him. To your bullied inside point, there's just not enough opportunity for that to happen in the NBA anymore. Posting up as a primary offensive strategy is only relevant for two players in the league: Jokic and Embiid. For everybody else, it's at best a secondary strategy. If I were a fan of the team Wembanyama goes to, I'd be happy if teams were constantly trying to post him up. I agree that Wembanyama has strength and footspeed shortcomings, but I think you're over-exaggerating the degree that those shortcomings matter.

[DAF86]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6TxUARM0F4

Damn, Charles with the boomer xenophobic bads.:lol I thought we were past this point in NBA talk, tbh.

It is pretty clear for anyone to see that this kid will be a beast. The only thing that could prevent him from dominating is if he ends up being injury prone. That's it. There's literally no other question mark.

[heyheymymy]

When asked which of the lottery-bound organizations projected first-overall pick Victor Wembanyama would likely prefer to play for, ESPN draft expert Jonathan Givony dropped a gem on the Zach Lowe podcast. "I think if you went to Victor Wembanyama’s camp right now and you gave them truth serum and you said ‘pick your ideal landing spot from those four’ I’m sure it would be the Spurs over those other teams…"

[Goob]

He is gonna get bullied maybe yes, unless he puts a bit more muscle on him.People did say similar things though about Durant and he is a Hall of Famer so really just depends.

[spurraider21]

He is gonna get bullied maybe yes, unless he puts a bit more muscle on him.People did say similar things though about Durant and he is a Hall of Famer so really just depends.
durant was super skinny but he wasn't really asked to play center or even PF early in his career, so it wasnt as big an issue for him. hell, as a rookie, PJ Carlesimo played Durant at SG. didnt work out, but he basically settled in as exclusively a 3 during his time at OKC, with ibaka is the shotblocker and perkins as the post defender (and nick collison rotating with them), so he wasnt really asked to guard bigs trying to back him down. at worst, he was playing against some physical wings, but nothing like the bigs wemby will be asked to defend

wemby will probably be asked to defend 4's in the NBA. luckily right now there aren't THAT many burly, physical guys playing the 4, but there are some like Towns, Zion, LeBron/Davis (depending on how the lakers play them). most are the more rangy athletic types like Collins, Mobley, Durant, etc

wemby's team has signaled that they dont expect him to bulk up too much because adding too much weight will make him susceptible to stress fractures and whatnot

[exstatic]

durant was super skinny but he wasn't really asked to play center or even PF early in his career, so it wasnt as big an issue for him. hell, as a rookie, PJ Carlesimo played Durant at SG. didnt work out, but he basically settled in as exclusively a 3 during his time at OKC, with ibaka is the shotblocker and perkins as the post defender (and nick collison rotating with them), so he wasnt really asked to guard bigs trying to back him down. at worst, he was playing against some physical wings, but nothing like the bigs wemby will be asked to defend

Other than the usual two Boogie Men, Jokic and Embiid, what other bigs will he be asked to guard, and why would teams attack him in the 2 point arena when it’s a 3 point league? They can’t trade 2 for 3, and win many games. Just look at us this year.

[spurraider21]

Other than the usual two Boogie Men, Jokic and Embiid, what other bigs will he be asked to guard, and why would teams attack him in the 2 point arena when it’s a 3 point league? They can’t trade 2 for 3, and win many games. Just look at us this year.
probably easier to get into his chest and use the rim to protect your shot than to hoist over a guy with nearly an 8 foot wingspan who is relatively nimble on his feet. i imagine that will be the main way people try to score on him

if the spurs trot out a lineup with wemby and sochan as the starting bigs there is a pretty wide list of guys he'd be asked to defend or box out that wouldn't be ideal. if they play him alongside a C, could certainly make things easier

[scott]

tbh, if we are so lucky as to land Wemby, I'd like our starting lineup to have Tre and Devin in the backcourt with Sochan and Wemby as interchangeable 3/4s in the frontcourt along with Collins. Tre and Collins being pieces that can be upgraded as opportunities present themselves. Keldon can be a bench spark that slides Sochan down to the 5 situationally for a small-ball lineup (that still has a 7'4" guy in it).

[John B]

Damn, Charles with the boomer xenophobic bads.:lol I thought we were past this point in NBA talk, tbh.

It is pretty clear for anyone to see that this kid will be a beast. The only thing that could prevent him from dominating is if he ends up being injury prone. That's it. There's literally no other question mark.

It took KD going beast mode last Olympics to win USA the gold. Because NBA is NOT that tough as Chuck implies, the foul-baiting, flops, ticky tak fouls and defensive 3’s. Yes Wemby will be going against bigger NBA bodies, but as Doncic has said, it’s tougher to score in Euro League.

Wemby will be floating around the perimeter shooting open shots over shorter defenders, or blowing big defenders. I agree Wemby needs 2-3 years acclimation, but I think today’s NBA style will make it easier for Wemby (or any 19 yr olds) to get there. Unlike when it was Kobe, Garnet, Kemp, etc. They had Oakley, Mahorn, Malone just waiting to inflict pain :lol:lol

[Alain]

probably easier to get into his chest and use the rim to protect your shot than to hoist over a guy with nearly an 8 foot wingspan who is relatively nimble on his feet. i imagine that will be the main way people try to score on him

It takes two to post_up.


if the spurs trot out a lineup with wemby and sochan as the starting bigs there is a pretty wide list of guys he'd be asked to defend or box out that wouldn't be ideal. if they play him alongside a C, could certainly make things easier

And what about accepting the idea that he's a unique, never seen before, game changing player and think outside the box for once.

[spurraider21]

It takes two to post_up.
i mean yeah i guess when the offensive player is near the basket you can simply refuse to defend the post and give him an uncontested dunk. thats a bold strategy, cotton


And what about accepting the idea that he's a unique, never seen before, game changing player and think outside the box for once.
im all aboard wemby hype train. he's a remarkable talent and anybody whose thought process isnt "just take the uber talent and figure the rest out later" is doing it wrong

with that said, he is still going to have to play defense in the nba. that is where he's going to have his issues in the NBA, imo. its hard to imagine him not being a relatively effortless scorer

[Alain]

It took KD going beast mode last Olympics to win USA the gold. Because NBA is NOT that tough as Chuck implies, the foul-baiting, flops, ticky tak fouls and defensive 3’s. Yes Wemby will be going against bigger NBA bodies, but as Doncic has said, it’s tougher to score in Euro League.

Yes, at least someone gets it. Today NBA is ballet dancing compared to Euroleague or National teams tournaments. One game in Belgrade, home cooking officials, over agressive crowd, almost no limit hacking and bullying and you'll get more physicality than during the entire NBA season.

[The Truth #6]

I’ll just say this, if we don’t get Victor, I’m much more likely to make snide remarks that he looks goofy on the court, sort of like a giraffe, but if we do get him, then, of course, I will never say any of those things and instead celebrate every day he’s with the team.

More seriously, I sense he will be awesome but with unicorns it’s hard to see how their advantages and disadvantages play out. With Banchero, for example, his build and agility are obvious advantages and I think he is having a great season hiding out in Orlando. The hype with Victor suggests greatness but there’s definitely a range of outcomes.

[Alain]

i mean yeah i guess when the offensive player is near the basket you can simply refuse to defend the post and give him an uncontested dunk. thats a bold strategy, cotton

Cotton ?
I just try to imagine what to do defensively with a player who can rip the ball off hands or contest anything at the rim, from behind you, while not even jumping. This is what I mean by thinking outside the box. It may sound stupid (probably it is, yes) but if you have the chance to coach a player like Victor it would be even more stupid not to try to reinvent the game and force the opponents to play the way you want.

[Ocotillo]

It's ironic that a lot of folks have concerns about Wemby being able to stay healthy in the league whereas Zion is the opposite, an absolute brute of an athlete that can't stay on the floor. (In anticipation of being told Zion is too heavy for his joints, I know, I know). Guess it's just a crap shoot whether I guy will be healthy or not. Nephew probably has what most would consider the ideal build for an NBA player and along with Anthony Davis, he can't play 82 games a year, like, ever.

[Russ]

Today NBA is ballet dancing compared to Euroleague or National teams tournaments. One game in Belgrade, home cooking officials, over agressive crowd, almost no limit hacking and bullying and you'll get more physicality than during the entire NBA season.

Yeah, just look at the All-Star Game. Soft yet gangsta. That's where the NBA game is headed.

The league needs the Spurs to lead a counter-revolution with Wemby carrying the flag like a modern-day Joan.

[heyheymymy]

I feel like Zion eats candy and sodas and AD is a coward who never trains. Meanwhile Wemby has nutritionists and stamina trainers on staff.

That's why I would tend to trust Wemby over examples using Zion or AD to compare imo tbh.

[spurraider21]

Cotton ?
I just try to imagine what to do defensively with a player who can rip the ball off hands or contest anything at the rim, from behind you, while not even jumping. This is what I mean by thinking outside the box. It may sound stupid (probably it is, yes) but if you have the chance to coach a player like Victor it would be even more stupid not to try to reinvent the game and force the opponents to play the way you want.
"bold strategy, cotton" is a line

yeah, fronting a player in the post with a 7'5 guy makes a ton of sense before he gets the ball. but once he has the ball near the basket... yeah no, i dont think it would be a viable to just vacate his path to the basket with the objective of blocking him from behind

[Alain]

It's ironic that a lot of folks have concerns about Wemby being able to stay healthy in the league whereas Zion is the opposite, an absolute brute of an athlete that can't stay on the floor. (In anticipation of being told Zion is too heavy for his joints, I know, I know). Guess it's just a crap shoot whether I guy will be healthy or not. Nephew probably has what most would consider the ideal build for an NBA player and along with Anthony Davis, he can't play 82 games a year, like, ever.

Absolutely. They say: most 7'3"+ players had injury problems so Victor will. But the sample size is paper thin, and the majority of these past 7'3" players were forced into professional basketball because of their size while Victor always knew he would play at a high level and conditioned his body from the start with the help of his parents (it is interesting to notice that his father was a triple jump champ so there's no doubt Victor was conctantly reminded on how to preserve legs and articulations).

[Alain]

"bold strategy, cotton" is a line

Oh, I see. Did watch Dodgeball, but in french, missed the reference.


yeah, fronting a player in the post with a 7'5 guy makes a ton of sense before he gets the ball. but once he has the ball near the basket... yeah no, i dont think it would be a viable to just vacate his path to the basket with the objective of blocking him from behind

Yes, you're probably right. But he won't be happy defending on centers most of the time so if he ever land in SA and Pop wants to pair him with Sochan, they'll have to be imginative. In the other hand, as Extatic said, posting-up is not the trend these days and most bigs will be reluctant to learn moves which take years to master just to exploit a handfull of opportunities on a yet to be exposed Victor weakness.

[spurraider21]

Oh, I see. Did watch Dodgeball, but in french, missed the reference.
:tu


Yes, you're probably right. But he won't be happy defending on centers most of the time so if he ever land in SA and Pop wants to pair him with Sochan, they'll have to be imginative. In the other hand, as Extatic said, posting-up is not the trend these days and most bigs will be reluctant to learn moves which take years to master just to exploit a handfull of opportunities on a yet to be exposed Victor weakness.
im not worried about how he fits with sochan specifically. i just think he's best fit playing alongside a more traditional center. we already know the spurs FO thought jak would have been a great pairing with him, and i agree. but i also dont blame them at all for pulling the trigger on that trade based on the return

[Truckules]

It's ironic that a lot of folks have concerns about Wemby being able to stay healthy in the league whereas Zion is the opposite, an absolute brute of an athlete that can't stay on the floor. (In anticipation of being told Zion is too heavy for his joints, I know, I know). Guess it's just a crap shoot whether I guy will be healthy or not. Nephew probably has what most would consider the ideal build for an NBA player and along with Anthony Davis, he can't play 82 games a year, like, ever.

There's definitely an element of luck/genetics when it comes to injuries. Having said that, I'm of the belief that the less weight they carry, the better odds they have of staying on the court. Wembanyama is already pretty close to Kareem in build. He just needs to naturally add a little weight as he ages and trains in an NBA system. I'm surprised that there's Spurs fans advocating for him putting on a bunch of weight when Tim slimmed down and extended his career another 5 years.

[BackHome]

Yeah I think his max weight would be about 20pds more then his current weight and should take him several years to get there. I would look at him gaining about 2 to 5 pounds of muscle a year but definitely would not let him do any bar bench press or squats. Keep him on bands, kettle balls, and dumbbells and definitely work on core strength and flexibility- The Kareem comparison makes me feel a little bit better regarding his health long term.

[Alain]

:tu


im not worried about how he fits with sochan specifically. i just think he's best fit playing alongside a more traditional center. we already know the spurs FO thought jak would have been a great pairing with him, and i agree. but i also dont blame them at all for pulling the trigger on that trade based on the return

Why not trying to lure Gobert after he fails in Minny and take advantage of the Olympic gold front court ? I'm sure it would flatten dickhead's ego to play alongside Victor... (add to the fact that Vincent Collet, french NT headcoach, is known to get his inspiration from Pop's playbook)

[spurraider21]

Why not trying to lure Gobert after he fails in Minny and take advantage of the Olympic gold front court ? I'm sure it would flatten dickhead's ego to play alongside Victor... (add to the fact that Vincent Collet, french NT headcoach, is known to get his inspiration from Pop's playbook)
a) gobert and wemby are about 10 years apart, and their windows dont line up at all
b) minnesota likely wont give up gobert cheap even if it blows up. they will want to save face considering the absolute haul they gave up to land him

[KingKev]

Why not trying to lure Gobert after he fails in Minny and take advantage of the Olympic gold front court ? I'm sure it would flatten dickhead's ego to play alongside Victor... (add to the fact that Vincent Collet, french NT headcoach, is known to get his inspiration from Pop's playbook)

lol have you seen Gobert’s contract? We couldn’t “lure” him till 2026 when he will be far past his prime.

[Alain]

a) gobert and wemby are about 10 years apart, and their windows dont line up at all

Sorry, I know it's not realistic but I wanted to troll a bit with the Olympic gold thing (and failed). Still I believe that Gobert, as a dedicated defensive center (not having to chase mobile bigs at the 3 points line) can be effective at least 5 more years, and that Victor will be a force before the end of his second year. The paint would be a no go zone.


b) minnesota likely wont give up gobert cheap even if it blows up. they will want to save face considering the absolute haul they gave up to land him

Ok, so you want to surround Victor with cheap players ?

[The Truth #6]

I could see a Zollins, Wemby, Sochan front court. Sochan and Zollins are tough at least.

[spurraider21]

Ok, so you want to surround Victor with cheap players ?
no. i dont want to give up large amounts of draft capital when trying to build around a 20 year old though

[spurraider21]

I could see a Zollins, Wemby, Sochan front court. Sochan and Zollins are tough at least.
i mean yeah if you are looking at our roster there isnt much else to see besides zollins and sochan :lol

[BackHome]

Yeah even if we get Wemb...we still going to be tanking at least two more years just hope and pray our picks pan out and stay healthy...

[The Truth #6]

i mean yeah if you are looking at our roster there isnt much else to see besides zollins and sochan :lol

Ha. Well I could see a potential KJ trade to keep Sochan with heavy minutes was one thing I was thinking, though not that I want him gone per se. And though the NBA has moved away from enforcers, still, having physical players next to Victor seems like a good idea.

[JPB]

Yeah even if we get Wemb...we still going to be tanking at least two more years just hope and pray our picks pan out and stay healthy...

Not sure tbh. Sochan (with one year under his belt) + Wemby (2 years as a pro and probably french league MVP + Vassel + Branham + Keldon + cap to sign vets could make for a decent team.

[ace3g]

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1629950504317984769/mYXbKLNr_normal.jpg (https://twitter.com/hornets)Charlotte Hornets (https://twitter.com/hornets)@hornets (https://twitter.com/hornets)




OFFICIAL: LaMelo Ball suffered a fracture in his right ankle in tonight’s home game vs. Detroit.Presented by @NovantHealth (https://twitter.com/NovantHealth/)

8:26pm · 27 Feb 2023 (https://twitter.com/hornets/status/1630393904263581696) · Twitter for Advertisers (https://help.twitter.com/en/using-twitter/how-to-tweet#source-labels)

[offset formation]

They're likely already too far out in front to get caught. 6 in the win column and 4 in the loss. Each like 20 or 21 games. I bet we don't win more than 5 more games. So it'll only take like 1 or 2 mire wins for them over their final run.

[Rocalcio]

and Forte !

Pour connaitre Dacoury oblige... lol

J'avais déjà relevé des indices quant à ta nationalité ;) Mais ton pseudo induit en erreur ! ^^

[Atl Spur]

Yeah even if we get Wemb...we still going to be tanking at least two more years just hope and pray our picks pan out and stay healthy...

I don’t think we’ll be doing one of these years again…..we truly don’t have to. Playing it to win makes more sense….

[Rocalcio]

When asked which of the lottery-bound organizations projected first-overall pick Victor Wembanyama would likely prefer to play for, ESPN draft expert Jonathan Givony dropped a gem on the Zach Lowe podcast. "I think if you went to Victor Wembanyama’s camp right now and you gave them truth serum and you said ‘pick your ideal landing spot from those four’ I’m sure it would be the Spurs over those other teams…"

As some of you know, I'm french, and 2 days ago I had the chance to meet a guy who plays basketball (at a senior level) with Victor's father (he actually showed me pictures of them together for those who would doubt what I'm saying). I asked him if they had any preference about the team that would land him. He replied that what Victor said was true, he would be happy playing for any team tanking to get him. But the family knows that being coached by pop would be just perfect. So I guess we can assume he'd love to be in SA.

[Atl Spur]

As some of you know, I'm french, and 2 days ago I had the chance to meet a guy who plays basketball (at a senior level) with Victor's father (he actually showed me pictures of them together for those who would doubt what I'm saying). I asked him if they had any preference about the team that would land him. He replied that what Victor said was true, he would be happy playing for any team tanking to get him. But the family knows that being coached by pop would be just perfect. So I guess we can assume he'd love to be in SA.

Nice!

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

Yeah even if we get Wemb...we still going to be tanking at least two more years just hope and pray our picks pan out and stay healthy...

The next couple of drafts, although way too early, project to be really bad. I doubt the Spurs will continue tanking past this year.

[XDT76]

As some of you know, I'm french, and 2 days ago I had the chance to meet a guy who plays basketball (at a senior level) with Victor's father (he actually showed me pictures of them together for those who would doubt what I'm saying). I asked him if they had any preference about the team that would land him. He replied that what Victor said was true, he would be happy playing for any team tanking to get him. But the family knows that being coached by pop would be just perfect. So I guess we can assume he'd love to be in SA.

Unfortunately, he doesn't have a say in the team picking him.

[Rummpd]

Unfortunately, he doesn't have a say in the team picking him.

Unless your a Kobe Bryant then you get yourself a wink wink trade that benefits him and LA.

[Rocalcio]

Unfortunately, he doesn't have a say in the team picking him.

Sure, but at least we know he won’t want out if he comes to SA.

[buttsR4rebounding]

"bold strategy, cotton" is a line

yeah, fronting a player in the post with a 7'5 guy makes a ton of sense before he gets the ball. but once he has the ball near the basket... yeah no, i dont think it would be a viable to just vacate his path to the basket with the objective of blocking him from behind

Love the Dodge Ball reference.

[buttsR4rebounding]

Not sure tbh. Sochan (with one year under his belt) + Wemby (2 years as a pro and probably french league MVP + Vassel + Branham + Keldon + cap to sign vets could make for a decent team.

Yep, I bet they go with the strategy from when they signed Robinson. Really, they would need to find a stud point guard to really contend.

[wildbill2u]

Not sure tbh. Sochan (with one year under his belt) + Wemby (2 years as a pro and probably french league MVP + Vassel + Branham + Keldon + cap to sign vets could make for a decent team.

You'd probably have to replace Keldon on the starting frontline to get that decent team as well as see an unbelieveable upward development of Branham from his rookie year...that's if you mean a chance for a championship. Not to mention that Sochan and Devin aren't exactly proven yet themselves. Your lineup would be a pretty daring starting five compared to some other teams. But it could be exciting and fun to watch. We'll see.

Doesn't matter. Spurstalk true fans are going to watch and cheer them on every game---and haters are gonna bitch and moan about how they could manage the team and coach better than anyone in power.

[ace3g]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6Py8khN4TU

[ace3g]

Pistons lost tonight.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FqLpB9AWIAAITKk?format=jpg&name=large

[BackHome]

Down the stretch its going to be terrible were going to see a lot more teams start tanking hard

[Mr. Body]

Down the stretch its going to be terrible were going to see a lot more teams start tanking hard

True, but I think only Charlotte's the one in range to push down past SAS and I'm not sure that's happening.

[lefty20]

Down the stretch its going to be terrible were going to see a lot more teams start tanking hard

It's already started. Det opted to pull a chris webber instead of attempting a tying or winning shot.

[ace3g]

It's already started. Det opted to pull a chris webber instead of attempting a tying or winning shot.

Omari Sankofa II (https://twitter.com/omarisankofa)@omarisankofa (https://twitter.com/omarisankofa)



Pistons just called a timeout they didn't have, big yikes. Bulls will shoot a technical free throw and then gain possession of the ball. Pistons went from taking the final shot trailing by 2, to now having to quickly foul and pray for two missed free throws. That might do it.

8:27pm · 1 Mar 2023 (https://twitter.com/omarisankofa/status/1631118880880852992) · Twitter Web App (https://help.twitter.com/en/using-twitter/how-to-tweet#source-labels)

[Mr. Body]

eh, just a fuckup by Ivey.

[thiste]

with that said, he is still going to have to play defense in the nba. that is where he's going to have his issues in the NBA, imo.
He'll be fine. His defense is a strong point for him and already one of the best in the World. He's altering so many shots, opponents have to completely redefine their offensive strategy to counter his presence.
Defending the post up may be a weakness but there's so much more to defending than just that.


(it is interesting to notice that his father was a triple jump champ so there's no doubt Victor was constantly reminded on how to preserve legs and articulations).
Triple jumping is probably the hardest discipline on one's joints that exists in athletics. He would know a thing or two about preserving that.

[ace3g]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvSTMQA9Q8I

[MultiTroll]

Pathetic showing by the Pacers.

2 in a row. Fuck!

[Thomas82]

Pathetic showing by the Pacers.

2 in a row. Fuck!

We have Devin Vassell to thank for that, especially since he doesn't want Victor here in the first place.

[BatManu20]

Players don’t give a fuck about the draft. Vassell’s prob tired of seeing fans talk about it and it motivated him even more tbh. Same with the other guys. They just wanna win. That’s why it’s up to the coaches to throw out bad lineups and pull guys who are shooting well, etc. to ensure tanking.

[MultiTroll]

Players don’t give a fuck about the draft. Vassell’s prob tired of seeing fans talk about it and it motivated him even more tbh. Same with the other guys. They just wanna win. That’s why it’s up to the coaches to throw out bad lineups and pull guys who are shooting well, etc. to ensure tanking.
100%.
Why it's been such a pleasant suprise to see Popped doing his job in the 2nd most influencial season of his career.

But WTF, I'm sure his assistants didn't go against his orders.
And he only hires Yes Men.

Now in fairness, Pacers sucked mega balls tonight. Nembhard is a certified tard, i remember him from Gonzaga.

But agree 100 this is where Pop needs to step up.
He was doing fantastic.

[XDT76]

Graham took over McD's cannot miss 3ptrs role tonight.

[pookenstein]

That could become two costly wins. I fully expect the Spurs to win both HOU games as well, which would put us at 18 and dangerously close to Charlottes 20.

[John B]

That could become two costly wins. I fully expect the Spurs to win both HOU games as well, which would put us at 18 and dangerously close to Charlottes 20.

I’m sure Pop will sit Vassell on the 2nd night of the b2b. Hey the guy is already 22

[LeBowen]

This team is obviously way better than the record shows. Having top3 worst record took a lot of work and smart tanking, they better not ruin the entire season now. We have to keep these odds for the lottery.

Hopefully no more tanking next season. I don't expect the Spurs to become a serious playoff team overnight, but it should be a 30 to 40 wins team depending on who we draft and if everyone keeps their current development trajectory.

[pookenstein]

I’m sure Pop will sit Vassell on the 2nd night of the b2b. Hey the guy is already 22
:lol

They'll win both games with or without Vassell.

[Gibbz]

So we're expected to beat Houston twice while potentially sitting guys and people are still milking out about Sengun being a future star?

[BackHome]

Tanking one season is not going to do it I do not care who we draft we need Major upgrade at 3 or 4 positions - We probably only have maybe two or three of our current players that will be on this team 3 years from now.

[heyheymymy]

Spurs must think they'll get Wemby, they already picked up Champagnie

[Sugus]

Tanking one season is not going to do it I do not care who we draft we need Major upgrade at 3 or 4 positions - We probably only have maybe two or three of our current players that will be on this team 3 years from now.

Major upgrades don't have to come through the draft exclusively, especially for a team with a surplus of drafting assets like the Spurs currently. If they landed Wemba (and maybe Scoot too), I would expect the team to go into next season with at least the mindset to win games, see how they fit on the court, and what their ceiling is as group of players. Then you trade, draft, and change as needed.

If by ASB it's not working out, you tank out the season, but I don't see it as a given. I'm not on camp "treat Wemba like he's made of glass and will tear like paper", I want him to grow on the court and be load managed as needed, and permitted by modern NBA. If he's Luka-level, you don't hold him down, especially with the new flattened odds.

[emanueldavidginobili]

No Keldon, Vassell, Doug, or Branham tonight.

[Jordan Jackson]

Good for PAFTO. Fuck the Rockets.

[Mr. Body]

They're gonna get Mamukelasvhili all over them.

[DPG21920]

Spurs are legit still not underdogs in Vegas for all the “HOU is way more talented” guys on here…I find that funny that as bad as SA is with no Dev/Keldon/Doug and Jak/Josh gone SA is still not an underdog vs HOU lol

[exstatic]

Tanking one season is not going to do it I do not care who we draft we need Major upgrade at 3 or 4 positions - We probably only have maybe two or three of our current players that will be on this team 3 years from now.

So, you’re swimming in shit like Andy Dufrense another year for a 1/7 shot at…what? And it’s not like this is our first lottery year. It’s our 4th consecutive.

[rascal]

Spurs are legit still not underdogs in Vegas for all the “HOU is way more talented” guys on here…I find that funny that as bad as SA is with no Dev/Keldon/Doug and Jak/Josh gone SA is still not an underdog vs HOU lol

I see the Rockets are favored by 1.5. The game is also in San Antonio

Another site has Rockets at -.5. basically a pick em game but Spurs are at home and missing players.

[BackHome]

So, you’re swimming in shit like Andy Dufrense another year for a 1/7 shot at…what? And it’s not like this is our first lottery year. It’s our 4th consecutive.

When was the last time the Spurs won a Championship without a first round draft pick?

[Mr. Body]

When was the last time the Spurs won a Championship without a first round draft pick?

Has a team ever won a Championship without a first round draft pick?

[MultiTroll]

Has a team ever won a Championship without a first round draft pick?
https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.RjFf0nocvjRdSNQkFX_cPwHaEK?pid=ImgDet&rs=1

Strictly guessing but ima say No.

[Mr. Body]

Man, it sucks loing to the Rockets.

Worse, looking at the lottery, a team like OKC that's leaning into the tank, had a far more competetive year and will have a just barely worse chance of getting Wembanyama than we do by the end of it while winning like 15-20 more games.

[spurraider21]

DPG21920 in shambles rn. No “no kelvin or Vassell” excuse built in to this one either

But but we beat pacers without Halliburton, spurs are actually talented :cry

[rascal]

DPG21920 was so wrong is believing the Spurs will easily beat houston in both games because they are so better.
He underestimated Pop sitting players out and tanking.

I told him the spurs will sit players and are in tank mode and no way they win both games, more likely the Spurs lose both instead of winning both. But I expected a split outcome.

[rascal]

DPG21920 in shambles rn. No “no kelvin or Vassell” excuse built in to this one either

But but we beat pacers without Halliburton, spurs are actually talented :cry

They also didn't play mathurin in the 2nd half.

With Pop out the interim coach wanted to win that game and the Pacers took advantage of that.
The Pacers are tanking to better their lottery odds.

[DPG21920]

Happy to be wrong. Hopefully HOU clear talent advantage allows them to leapfrog SA. But game 1 Spurs rested everyone and game 2 HOU is at full strength and SA still sat Sochan, Collins and Tre Jones along with Doug and this was Vassell 2nd game back.

I was not anticipating that for sure. Evens out the other two wins but make no mistake; if SA had their starting 5 playing, they are beating HOU.

[DPG21920]

CHA still look incapable of winning games. They are getting blown out every game sans LaMelo at the moment. But these two losses definitely help. SA would need to win 4 out of last 17 games (which is only 23% and completely feasible) to tie CHA for 4th best record if they continue to go winless.

I definitely still see at least 4 wins possible to end the year so it will come down to CHA winning a few and they look really, really bad right now. Would be great if HOU stayed healthy and clicked to end the year and won 30% of games but I highly doubt that.

I still say: HOU/DET behind SA and CHA 4th but wouldn’t shock me if SA caught CHA either.

If SA is truly healthy, OKC/ORL/ATL/UTA/WAS/POR/MIN all beatable. IF SA can survive the next 3: DEN, OKC and ORL, they have a good shot to lose like 6 straight and likely cement bottom 3. Win agains any of those 3 and it will get dicey if CHA cant win any in next 3-5 games (they play NY who is playing great, DET who sucks, UTA who is beatable but not for DET/HOU I’m guessing and CLE 2x). DET seems like the only one they *could* get and if they lose that one? Things will get really interesting all around.

[Barfunk]

Hopefully Silver realizes this is the absolute best franchise for Wemby to be on to prepare him for the Lakers.

:flag:

[rascal]

The Spurs haven't come this far in this tank season to win four more games and let CHA pass them.

[KingKev]

Happy to be wrong. Hopefully HOU clear talent advantage allows them to leapfrog SA. But game 1 Spurs rested everyone and game 2 HOU is at full strength and SA still sat Sochan, Collins and Tre Jones along with Doug and this was Vassell 2nd game back.

I was not anticipating that for sure. Evens out the other two wins but make no mistake; if SA had their starting 5 playing, they are beating HOU.

lol wagggghhhhh

[DPG21920]

Spurs missing 3 starters and ST “lmao you were wrong!!!’

[exstatic]

CHA still look incapable of winning games. They are getting blown out every game sans LaMelo at the moment. But these two losses definitely help. SA would need to win 4 out of last 17 games (which is only 23% and completely feasible) to tie CHA for 4th best record if they continue to go winless.

I definitely still see at least 4 wins possible to end the year so it will come down to CHA winning a few and they look really, really bad right now. Would be great if HOU stayed healthy and clicked to end the year and won 30% of games but I highly doubt that.

I still say: HOU/DET behind SA and CHA 4th but wouldn’t shock me if SA caught CHA either.

If SA is truly healthy, OKC/ORL/ATL/UTA/WAS/POR/MIN all beatable. IF SA can survive the next 3: DEN, OKC and ORL, they have a good shot to lose like 6 straight and likely cement bottom 3. Win agains any of those 3 and it will get dicey if CHA cant win any in next 3-5 games (they play NY who is playing great, DET who sucks, UTA who is beatable but not for DET/HOU I’m guessing and CLE 2x). DET seems like the only one they *could* get and if they lose that one? Things will get really interesting all around.

How do you see 4 wins in the last 17 for a team that just got their shit pushed hard back to back by the worst team in the league?

[DPG21920]

Looking at HOU schedule - they have maybe 3 wins max it looks like…CHA, DET, WAS maybe one of the BKY games?

[DPG21920]

How do you see 4 wins in the last 17 for a team that just got their shit pushed hard back to back by the worst team in the league?

Lol because SA was missing 3 starters man…Spurs are going to be healthy. If you are telling me Pop will continue to make sure that Tre/Vassell/Keldon/Sochan/COllins do not play together? Then sure I agree.

But it appears they are getting healthy to end the year and if they are they can win 4 games against the teams I mentioned let alone a fluky shooting night against someone else.

[rascal]

Lol because SA was missing 3 starters man…Spurs are going to be healthy. If you are telling me Pop will continue to make sure that Tre/Vassell/Keldon/Sochan/COllins do not play together? Then sure I agree.

But it appears they are getting healthy to end the year and if they are they can win 4 games against the teams I mentioned let alone a fluky shooting night against someone else.

You still aren't seeing that Pop does not want to win.

[DPG21920]

You still aren't seeing that Pop does not want to win.

If I’m wrong I’m wrong. Who cares? This is how I see it playing out with everyone seemingly getting healthy. If they aren’t healthy or Pop is not going to let them play then I will be wrong. No doubt. My POV is purely based on the fact they appear to be healthy to end the year.

[KingKev]

Lol because SA was missing 3 starters man…Spurs are going to be healthy. If you are telling me Pop will continue to make sure that Tre/Vassell/Keldon/Sochan/COllins do not play together? Then sure I agree.

But it appears they are getting healthy to end the year and if they are they can win 4 games against the teams I mentioned let alone a fluky shooting night against someone else.

Tre and Zollins wouldn’t start on one other team in the NBA. Our two best players in Keldon and Vassell played tonight. Two guys your rave about as a solid young core.

Hold your L.

[DPG21920]

Tre and Zollins wouldn’t start on one other team in the NBA. Our two best players in Keldon and Vassell played tonight. Two guys your rave about as a solid young core.

Hold your L.

Your name must be Will because you definitely have more Ls than Ws in your life.

[spurraider21]

Your name must be Will because you definitely have more Ls than Ws in your life.
https://i.etsystatic.com/19813902/r/il/6223c4/2403375408/il_570xN.2403375408_gomu.jpg

[DPG21920]

https://pyxis.nymag.com/v1/imgs/949/049/78b77de45bccc84026669d24c3af6388c0-14-eminem-8-mile.2x.rsquare.w330.jpg

[Mr. Body]

Just a reminder the Spurs have an 86% chance of NOT getting Wembanyama.

[Russ]

If the Lakers and Pelicans both miss the playoffs, the Lakers could still get Wemby (even with the pick swap in place).

That would set off a meltdown.

[Seventyniner]

If the Lakers and Pelicans both miss the playoffs, the Lakers could still get Wemby (even with the pick swap in place).

That would set off a meltdown.

I don't think that can happen. The Pelicans have the right to swap picks with the Lakers, not the obligation. If the Pelicans somehow end up with a higher pick they will just keep it.

[Ariel]

I don't think that can happen. The Pelicans have the right to swap picks with the Lakers, not the obligation. If the Pelicans somehow end up with a higher pick they will just keep it.

This. The Pelicans in essence get the most favorable of the 2 picks and the Lakers get the other. They can still get Wemby though, he just has to be passed over by 14 teams or so... :lol

[Seventyniner]

This. The Pelicans in essence get the most favorable of the 2 picks and the Lakers get the other. They can still get Wemby though, he just has to be passed over by 14 teams or so... :lol

I guess technically the Pelicans can get the #1 pick and the Lakers #2, then all it would take is the Pelicans passing on VW. But if that happens I'm gonna go look for a huge meteor in the sky. Or wonder what dirt Silver has on the Pelicans FO.

[exstatic]

Lol because SA was missing 3 starters man…Spurs are going to be healthy. If you are telling me Pop will continue to make sure that Tre/Vassell/Keldon/Sochan/COllins do not play together? Then sure I agree.

But it appears they are getting healthy to end the year and if they are they can win 4 games against the teams I mentioned let alone a fluky shooting night against someone else.

Pop’s been sitting two scorers OR two defenders almost every night. If they were trying to win games? Sure, but they’re not.

[exstatic]

If the Lakers and Pelicans both miss the playoffs, the Lakers could still get Wemby (even with the pick swap in place).

That would set off a meltdown.

Nope. The lottery goes down, and if LA gets the top pick, NO simply swaps. There is no way that LA gets Wemby.

[Russ]

Nope. The lottery goes down, and if LA gets the top pick, NO simply swaps. There is no way that LA gets Wemby.

Thanks, I needed that.

[Leetonidas]

https://i.etsystatic.com/19813902/r/il/6223c4/2403375408/il_570xN.2403375408_gomu.jpg

:lol

[spurraider21]

only 3 of our remaining games (orlando/okc/portland) come against teams not currently in a play-in position or greater

[DPG21920]

Pop’s been sitting two scorers OR two defenders almost every night. If they were trying to win games? Sure, but they’re not.

Up until now it was due to legit injuries like with Tre and Vassell. From here on out they look healthy so it would take doing something Pop hasn’t really done this season. Im not dismissing it, but Im not leaning on that either. I really hope he does -Im not rooting to be right here lol

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Just a reminder the Spurs have an 86% chance of NOT getting Wembanyama.

There's an 86% chance that many posters in here will blame Pop when we don't win the lottery.

[offset formation]

I guess technically the Pelicans can get the #1 pick and the Lakers #2, then all it would take is the Pelicans passing on VW. But if that happens I'm gonna go look for a huge meteor in the sky. Or wonder what dirt Silver has on the Pelicans FO.

Don't Look Up. We're beyond fucked.

[offset formation]

There's an 86% chance that many posters in here will blame Pop when we don't win the lottery.

I was once amongst the hugest of Pop fans. I've since chilled on him somewhat (the way he treated members of the media was uber disrespectful and his apparent lack of concern for defensive incompetence). But I'm still generally a fan of pop. Not sure how missing Wembanyama could be blamed on pop so long as he leads us to one of the 3 worst records. He did his job if so.

[rascal]

only 3 of our remaining games (orlando/okc/portland) come against teams not currently in a play-in position or greater

This is important and I see the spurs having the worst record in the end.

[DPG21920]

This is important and I see the spurs having the worst record in the end.

$100 bet?